Chandigarh all set for Rose Festival

Chandigarh all set for Rose Festival

MUNISH DHIMAN  14th Feb 2015

Moments from last year’s edition of the festival. PHOTO: T.S. BEDI Chandigarh is gearing up to host the 43rd edition of the annual Rose Festival, from 20-22 February at the Zakir Rose Garden, sector 16, and Leisure Valley, sector 10. The festival is the biggest of its kind in the country, and visitors will get the chance to witness 600 exotic varieties of the flower in all its glory. Organised under the aegis of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation and the Department of Tourism, Chandigarh, the event has become a popular slot on the calendar in the tri-city, with a large turnout. Events scheduled to be held include competitions for flower arranging and photography through its three-day duration. Speaking about the festival, Poonam Sharma, Mayor, Municipal Corporation (MC), Chandigarh, says: "The Hasya Kavi Sameelan, Sufi Evening and Rafi Yaadgar Evening will add freshness to the event. Besides these cultural engagements, a fashion show for the youth, which will crown a 'Miss Rose' and 'Mr. Rose', and another one for senior citizens who will be awarded the 'Rose King' and 'Rose Queen' titles, should also boost the individual participation." { “The festival has grown over the years to become one of the major cultural tourism events in the city. The evening performances at the Leisure Valley remain a hot favorite among the youth.” In addition, the administration is making arrangements to encourage the participation of children as well. The "Rose Prince" and Rose Princess" fashion show, meant for toddlers, is an event that's popular among young parents, while camel rides, puppet shows and an amusement park should be an added attraction for the young ones. Image 2nd A.K. Malhotra, General Manager (Tourism) Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. (CITCO) says, "The festival has grown over the years to become one of the major cultural tourism events in the city. The evening performances at the Leisure Valley remain a hot favourite among the youth. This year, Punjabi singing sensation Sharry Mann and Bollywood singer Babul Supriyo will add to the entertainment quotient." "The Zakhir Rose Garden, one of the largest rose gardens in India, has become a popular tourist destination in the city, and the event attracts visitors from across the country," says Yashwinder Sharma, Programme Officer, North Zone Cultural Centre. "Every year, we organise cultural evenings to engage visitors, and we are expecting more than 100 artists from different states this year." The footfall at the event has crossed the 3.5 lakh mark in recent years, as per a senior tourism official, and this year is expected to be even greater. Thus, the Chandigarh Traffic Police is going the extra mile to make special parking arrangements for a free flow of traffic and to avoid any congestion. In addition, with participation from Residents' Welfare Associations (RWA) and nurseries in various flower and park maintenance activities, the festival is bound to appeal to the sensibilities of nature lovers around. http://www.sunday-guardian.com/young-restless/chandigarh-all-set-for-rose-festival