Sea of colour as two-day spring festival kicks off at Raj Bhavan

The annual Vasantotsav or Spring Festival, which opened on Raj Bhavan on Saturday, saw a variety of flowers, ranging from lilies to carnations on display.

Governor Dr K K Paul inaugurated the two-day festival and also released the first day cover of the event prepared by India Post featuring sea buckthorn, a plant found in the hills of Uttarakhand which is rich in medicinal qualities.

The event this year saw more than 835 entries being made in various competitive categories. These included entries by individuals, flower growers and government institutions. Gerbera, carnations, gladioli, lilies, potted plants, cacti and bonsai were some of the varieties seen at the festival.

Speaking on the occasion, the governor said, “This festival is not just an exhibition of flowers but has now become a folk festival where people come with their families and friends and enjoy being amid nature, music, flowers, art and entertainment.”

He added that floriculture can become an important source of income for farmers in Uttarakhand and is a profitable alternative to traditional farming and schemes of floriculture should be promoted in remote hill areas to help curb migration.

Paul also said that tulips have been successfully grown at Raj Bhavan and suggested cultivating tulips commercially in the state to cater to the huge demand for the flowers in the international market.

Dr Harak Singh Rawat, agriculture minister, who was also present at the inauguration, said, “We are making many schemes available in the sphere of horticulture and floriculture. Uttarakhand can become an economically strong state on this basis.”

The event also witnessed an exhibition of stamps by India Post and also showcased the Governor’s personal stamp collection containing approximately 2,200 stamps. Many youngsters and school students were present at the festival.

The festival is a two-day event and is open to visitors on March 5 and March 6.