By M.T. Yogesh Kumar

[Pics by M.N. Lakshminarayana Yadav]

In the grand celebration of Dasara, the Flower Show at Kuppanna Park takes the spotlight as the second most popular event after the Vijayadashami procession. This spectacular event is meticulously organised to attract a large number of visitors and is a collaborative effort between the Mysuru District Horticulture Society and the Department of Horticulture.

Visitors eagerly anticipate the opportunity to witness the breathtaking floral displays and arrangements. This year’s execution and maintenance of the Dasara Flower Show has been allocated a record budget of Rs. 2.10 crore, with tasks awarded through four separate tenders to ensure perfection and serve as a major attraction.

Components of tender

Vijay Kumar, responsible for ticket collection at the entrance gate, has successfully secured a tender worth Rs. 1.02 crore. Suhail has won tenders for setting up amenities and food stalls at the amusement park, with a total value of Rs. 31.27 lakh and Rs. 50.15 lakh, respectively. Uma Shankar has obtained a tender for creating diverse designs, including a Chandrayaan-3 theme, at the Glass House in Kuppanna Park, valued at Rs. 28.95 lakh.

The Flower Show will commence on the first day of Navarathri, beginning on Oct. 15. Preparations for this event began three to four months in advance, involving the collection, planting and arrangement of various flower types in different Horticulture Department parks and gardens across Mysuru.

Over the past 3-4 days, intensive work has been underway at Kuppanna Park, Kukkarahalli Lake and at other places like the University of Mysore, ZP Office etc., where flower plants are being meticulously arranged. Various nursery gardens have begun contributing diverse flower plants from multiple locations in Mysuru, including Kuppanna Park, Gordon Park (near the old DC Office), Jaladarshini Guest House, Government Guest House, Dasara Exhibition Grounds and Curzon Park.

Over the past three to four months, the Horticulture Department has painstakingly cultivated more than 85,000 flower pots, encompassing over 40 varieties. These varieties include French Marigold, Dianthus, Verbena, Begonia, Dahlia, Fire Bush, Ornamental Kale, Zinnia, Vinca, Periwinkle, Salvia, Marigold and Sweet William. Many of these varieties boast more than 40 different types of flowering plants and the arrangement work is currently in progress across the city.

Chandrayaan-3 theme

One of the standout features of this year’s Flower Show is the Chandrayaan-3 theme, showcasing India’s lunar mission using pristine white Kolkata Chrysanthemum flowers. This unique display comprises an 18-foot high rocket and a rover resembling the Pragyan Rover, all crafted entirely from flowers. The framework is expertly shaped using sponges and flowers are affixed to create intricate designs. The Glass House display will be completed in the next two days, offering a captivating sight. Additionally, a selfie point featuring the preamble of the Indian Constitution in both Kannada and English is being prepared.

With India hosting the 13th ICC Cricket World Cup, the Flower Show adopts the theme ‘Win for India.’ In this section, cricket bats, balls and wickets made entirely from flowers will be on display. The work on creating cricket-themed floral exhibits is set to commence today.

Arrival of flowers from other States

To embellish Kuppanna Park, over 35,000 flower plants have been procured from various States and places, including Tamil Nadu, Ooty, Pune and West Bengal (Kolkata). On Oct. 11, the first consignment of flower plants arrived safely in trays and additional deliveries are expected today.

Employees and workers from the Horticulture Department have played an active role in arranging flowering plants in Kuppanna Park, categorising them based on their flowering cycles, which range from 40-day to 120-day to 60-day species. These plants have been meticulously planted well in advance to ensure a stunning display during the grand 10-day event.

Diligently preparing the floral arrangements, they are working tirelessly to ensure that the flower plants and displays are visually captivating. The Dasara Flower Show promises to be a visual extravaganza, characterised by unique themes and captivating arrangements that will leave a lasting impression on all who visit.