Dainik Nation News Portal
DAINIK NATION BUREAU
The annual, popular Spring Festival (Basantotsav) will be held this year on March 4 and 5 at Rajbhawan. A meeting, presided over by Governor Dr.K.K.Paul, was held at Raj Bhawan today to decide the dates for the festival and also to take other decisions regarding it.
It was decided that the first day cover to be issued by the postal department this year will have medicinal Van Tulasi as its theme plant (a photo of the plant is attached here along with details about it).
On March 3, at 12 noon, the Governor will throw light on the highlights of the event before members of the print and electronic media. On March 4, at 11 a.m., the Governor will inaugurate the festival and release the special postal cover. From 12 noon till 6 p.m., the festival will be opened to the public free of cost.
In the evening, on March 4, a cultural programme by folk artistes of Uttarakhand will be organized by the cultural department
On March 5, from 4 pm to 6 pm, the Governor will give away prizes to all those who emerge as winners in various competitions that will be part of the Basantotsav. This will mark the culmination of the event.
The Governor said at today’s meeting that this annual event would have to be shaped up in such a manner that farmers and customers of medicinal and plants, floriculturists, producers of organic items from far and near should look upon it as an excellent platform/ opportunity.
He said that it would be an encouragement and economically beneficial to producers in the state if they could meet buyers from New Delhi and other cities at this event. This would help them improve the marketing of their flowers.
The Governor said that dishes that used organic produce (Fruits and vegetables) of the state should be made available at the food court of the festival. Nutritional information about these should also be displayed .
The horticulture staff of Raj Bhawan, on the initiative of the Governor, will display this year how hanging garden and vertical gardens can be created by people living in limited spaces. A special stall will be put up this year to display and sell products/ handicrafts made by inmates of Nari Niketan and poor women from other organizations. IMA and ITBP bands will play during the festival.
The Governor directed that departments concerned will have to make more efforts to ensure that handicrafts, music, dance and cuisine of the state are given proper and excellent expression during the festival.
Like earlier years, this year too commercial and individual flower growers and gardens of government institutions will participate in the festival and compete.
Floral Rangoli, painting competition for poor or differently-abled children. A photo exhibition based on natural beauty, a painting exhibition and a Philately exhibition will be part of the fest.
Cut flowers, potted plants arrangements, loose flower arrangement, hanging pots etc are various categories for the fest .On the spot photography will also be held.
The Governor said at the meeting that all arrangements like food, potable water, temporary toilets and first aid must be set up and parking and cleanliness must be taken care of.
Present at today’s meeting were secretary to the Governor Dr.Bhupinder Kaur Aulakh, secretary (horticulture) secretary (tourism), director (horticulture), officials from ITBP, IMA, ONGC, IIT Roorkee, IHM, GMVN, Tourism, meteorological department, Postal department, forest department, police, culture ,finance and horticulture departments.
