Chennai, May 21: Tamilnadu Chief Minister M K Stalin inaugurated the 124th edition of the Flower Show, being held as part of the annual summer festival at the Government Botanical Garden in the Queen of Hill Stations, a popular destination that attracts a large number of both domestic and international tourists. The five-day flower show was being held after a two year gap, when
it could not be held due to the COVID pandemic.
A large number of people, including tourists, who visited the flower show shook hands with the Chief Minister, who walked through the Botanical Garden, and also took selfies. Apart from visiting several stalls, Stalin also interacted with the people and witnessed cultural events organised in the Garden. What attracted the visitors most was the high massive façade of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University’s (TNAU) main building, which was made of more than one lakh carnation flowers.
Tourists and the general public thronged the 20-ft tall and 80-ft long TNAU building replica made of carnations procured from local farmers as well as from across South India, according to horticulture department officials.
Another structure made of flowers showing ”OOTY 200” to mark two centuries of the formation of Ooty (as this hilly town it was previously known) captivated the visitors, who stood before it and too selfies and photos in their mobile phones. The flower show featured more than 275 different varieties of flowering plants. Tulips from the Netherlands were also imported to add grandeur
and luster to this gala flower show. Thousands of visitors, who visited the Botanical Garden were in for a visual treat to more than 4,500 plants arranged in the Glass House.
Prominent exhibits made of flowers included the one commemorating the bicentenary of the colonial exploration of the Nilgiris, as well as an exhibit of yellow flowers designed in the shape of a manjappai or yellow bag to raise awareness among visitors to use cloth bags and reduce the use of plastic. Life-size flower statues of six of the Nilgiris’ indigenous tribes – the Todas,
Kotas, Irulas, Kurumbas, Paniyas and Kattuanayakans–were also on display. The exhibits showcased the different traditional attires of the indigenous groups, all made of carnation flowers.
More than 35,000 flower pots containing 5.5 lakh flowers, the seeds of which were imported, were also displayed as part of the flower show.