‘Vishwaguru Basavanna and Vachana Sahithya (literature)’ will be the theme of this year’s Republic Day flower show at Lalbagh Botanical Garden, which will be organised from January 18 to 28 by the Horticulture Department.
The floral replica of Anubhava Mantapa will be the main attraction at the show, officials said. Replicas of Aikya Mantapa, Ishta Linga Prathiroopa, Basavanna’s interactions with the public, and other aspects related to Basavanna’s life will be exhibited. Large screens will be set up in various sections of Lalbagh where information related to Basavanna and Vachana literature will be showcased.
“We will also have models, busts, and statues related to Vachana writers like Allama Prabhu, Akka Mahadevi, Ambigara Chowdayya, and others,” D.S. Ramesh, director, Horticulture Department, told The Hindu.
New addition
Around 10-12 lakh flower pots will be used in the glasshouse and other areas of Lalbagh this year. While many varieties of flowers from Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh will be used in the arrangement, this year’s newest addition will be the Cymbidium Orchids, which will be exhibited for the first time in the State by the Horticulture Department.
“The Cymbidium Orchid plants, although sourced from Darjeeling, were grown in the Karnataka Siri Horticulture Garden in Ooty. We will also have 15 types of temperate plants in the show,” said a senior official from the department.
During the Independence Day flower show in 2023, over one lakh to 1.5 lakh people visited the show every day and even more people are expected this year.
The Horticulture Department will also set up 120 technical stalls where information related to horticulture, ornamental horticulture, and other advanced technology will be available under one roof.
The department will also organise an essay competition for students on the topic ‘Kayakave Kailasa’ at Lalbagh, three days prior to the show’s inauguration.
