208th I-Day flower show dedicated to armed forces

Workers preparing a floral model of a missile at the Lalbagh gardens on Thursday. The show will be on between August 4 and 15. DH Photo/S K Dinesh

Horticulture dept dedicates 208th flower show to armed forces. The horticulture department has dedicated the 208th Independence Day flower show, to be held between August 4 and 15 at the Lalbagh gardens, to the armed forces.

Y S Patil, director, horticulture department, told the media on Thursday that a model of war memorial Amar Jawan Jyoti, located in Delhi's India Gate, will be the highlight of this year's flower show. "The flower show will begin with floral tributes this time," Patil added. The flags of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force will flutter during the show, set up at a cost of Rs 2 crore.

Patil said three themes will be created this time: one inside the glass house, another surrounding the glass house and the third at the entrances and along the perimeters of the gardens. Fifteen experts have worked with 1.20 lakh flowers to curate the show. Garden authorities will replace 40,000 flowers thrice a day to maintain the freshness of the model memorial.

Reflecting the defence theme, curators will set up landscapes of BSF jawans guarding the coastal areas, deserts and the Siachen glacier, besides replicas of fighter jets, tankers and the warship INS Vikramaditya.

To highlight the city's contribution to the defence forces, war planes and helicopters made in HAL, and radars and war models made in BEL will be on display inside the glass house.

Towering over these models will be the 25-foot vertical floral garden, replicating the lighthouse transmitting messages to the defence forces, created at the center of the glass house. The vertical garden will be made with 15,000 flowers.

Also on display will be replicas of the ISRO-made PSLV and GSLV satellites, besides Akash and Brahmos missiles and four types of HAL-made war planes and helicopters.

Panels set up inside the glass house will inform the visitors on the structure of the defence forces, their combat accomplishments, gallantry awards and more.

For the first time, the show will host BSF, Madras Engineering Group and KSRP musicians, who will entertain the weekend crowd at the garden.

Also, to commemorate 85 years of the Kannada film industry, floral models of old film reels, clapboards and cameras will also be displayed inside the glass house.

Beehives covered up "We have covered the two 50-foot-high beehives in the garden, installed warning boards near the big trees and have also arranged anti-bee bite injections. We’ll also station doctors, ambulance and mini-ICU vans with helpers," said joint director, horticulture department, M Jagadeesh. He also said a board informing about the 'Dos' and 'Dont's' and emergency contact numbers will also be displayed. 18% GST on entry tickets For the first time, entry tickets to the flower show will attract 18% GST. "The flower show is hosted by the Mysuru Horticulture Society. So, entry for every show attracts GST, according to the tax norms. We have hiked the ticket rate from Rs 60 to Rs 70 for adults," Y S Patil, director, horticulture department said. For children, the entry fee will remain Rs 20, he said. "So far, we have avoided paying 12.36% sales tax on request (for exemption). But now, we've received a letter from the commercial tax department, asking for Rs 52 lakh sales tax, which we are contesting," Patil added. He said children visiting the show on weekdays from their schools will be allowed free, but they would be charged when coming with their parents. Patil urged children to witness the show during the week to avoid untoward incidents. No parking inside premises Vehicles will not be allowed inside during the flower show, except for school buses and vehicles carrying people with disabilities. Parking arrangements have been made at the Shanthinagar bus stand complex, BBMP multistorey complex on JC Road and Al-Ameen College grounds. Visitors can also use the Namma Metro rail facility and enter from the Lalbagh west gate.