Mysuru: The Annual Flower Show organised by the Mysore Palace Board to coincide with the Mysuru Winter Festival will begin from tomorrow (Dec.23) and end on Jan.1, 2018. Nearly 3.5 lakh flowers will be used to decorate some of the interesting structures coming up at the sprawling grounds of the Palace.

Speaking to Star of Mysore here this morning, Palace Board Deputy Director T.S. Subramanya said, “The Board is organising the Flower Show for the fourth year in a row. We decided to organise it during December too as it is the year-end holiday season and there is more footfall now than during Dasara season. If 20,000 people visit the Palace every day during Dasara, more than 30,000 visit it during the Christmas season.”

The Horticulture Department is arranging nearly 10,000 flowerpots with 33 varieties of flowers.

The efforts by the Department is noteworthy as they are trying to recreate the replica of the old wooden Mysore Palace (which was burnt in a fire). Clay models of the Maharaja sitting on the golden throne with six of his guards by his side decorated with flowers, elephant cart with four musicians performing, a tower like entrance are some of the other attractions.

As part of the flower show, 200 medicinal plants would be distributed to the chief guests. “The 3.5 lakh varieties of flowers include Dutch variety roses and Orchids imported from Holland, flowers like Chrysanthemum, Taj Mahal Red, avalanche white, orange and yellow roses, Zarbara, Lilium, Spray Chrysanthemum, from Ooty, Hosur and Bengaluru will be used,” he said.

The decoration of the flowers including the structures will cost about Rs.50 lakh. The flowers will be changed after five days, as they will go dry, he said.

The main attraction for the children include king cobra, elephants, tortoise, star fish, octopus, chota Bheem, chota Krishna figures decorated using flowers, vegetables and fruits. A 10 feet high and 273 feet wide vertical garden attached to the wall of the Varahaswamy Temple is coming up. This will be decorated with Petunia variety flowers in red, white, purple colours and green leaf type plants.

As part of the ten-day flower show, government and private organisations will participate, display flowers, and set up some theme designs. For instance, Brakes India Limited, Nanjangud, will create the Gopura of Nanjangud temple.

Horticulture Department, Mysuru Government Ayruveda College, Vaishnavi Landscape, BEML- Mysuru, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Ganapathy Sachchidananda Ashrama, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya and other organisations will also participate in the flower show. It will be open to visitors from 10 am to 9 pm till January 1, 2018.