Bengaluru: It is that time of the year when Bengalureans visit Lalbagh Botanical Garden for a floral fiesta and more.The horticulture department Monday said the Republic Day flower show will be inaugurated Wednesday by chief minister Siddaramaiah and will go on till Jan 26.
The 13-day show, The Journey of Tejaswi, will be a tribute to the life, literature and environmental legacy of polymath author KP Poornachandra Tejaswi.What’s new this time?Steering clear of traditional busts and models to embrace an environmentally conscious theme that reflects Tejaswi’s ethos, moving animal tableaux will be introduced this year. The wild animal figurines will traverse the garden in eco-vehicles, complete with sound systems and actions such as an owl moving its head, designed to be a major attraction for children. All about TejaswiTejaswi Pratishtana, in collaboration with his family and companions, helped curate the show. A dedicated photo gallery showcasing 150 bird photos and 250 entomological specimens, all reflecting Tejaswi’s interests, will be displayed. His 54 books will be available for sale too. The exhibition will include 400 Naru Beru (fibre and root) sculptures by Nandi Hills-based artist Nagaraj, and 35 large wood carvings created from fallen trees within the garden.Horticultural spectacleAround 35 lakh flowers and 9 lakh cut ones will be featured in the show. There will be new and exotic blooms, including Simbidium (from Sikkim) and Oncidium orchids, temperate flowers such as azaleas, camellias and cyclamen, over 25 new varieties of calla lilies and chrysanthemums.The exhibition will feature a ‘wild fruits’ section, displaying 300 varieties of edible and non-edible forest fruits from regions such as Kakankote and Mangaluru, including the 1.5-metre-long entada (giant bean). Where to get tickets?Tickets are priced at Rs 80 for adults (Rs 100 on holidays) and Rs 30 for children on all days. They will be available at Lalbagh counters and online on hasiru.karnataka.gov.in/flowershow from Jan 14.
