Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Jan 24: As part of the Karavali Utsava and Republic Day celebrations, a grand fruit and flower exhibition organised at Kadri Park from January 23 to 26 was inaugurated on Friday, attracting large numbers of visitors. The exhibition was inaugurated by Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta. Mamatha Gatti, chairperson of the Cashew Development Corporation, along with several other dignitaries, were present on the occasion.
The exhibition is being jointly organised by the Dakshina Kannada district administration, zilla panchayat, horticulture department, Kadri Park Development Committee and Siri Horticulture Associations.
The highlight of this year’s exhibition is a stunning replica of the ‘Vande Bharat’ train, crafted entirely using colourful flowers. The replica features three coaches measuring 24 feet in length and a 30-foot-long railway track, created using a wide variety of flowers. Nearly 15,000 flowers belonging to around 30 different varieties have been used. These include salvia, chrysanthemum, globe amaranth, zinnia, dianthus, aster, vinca rosea, celosia, dahlia, petunia, torenia and several others.
The exhibition also features a demonstration of kitchen gardening, fruit and vegetable carvings depicting eminent personalities from various fields, displays of ornamental plants, bonsai plants and ikebana flower arrangements. The exhibition is open to the public from 8 am to 8 pm. Entry fee is fixed at Rs 30 for adults and Rs 20 for children, while students visiting in uniform along with their teachers are allowed free entry.
A special section is dedicated to agricultural produce grown by farmers, showcasing unique varieties of fruits, vegetables, plantation crops and spices. Farmers are also provided an opportunity to sell their produce. Displays include horticulture handicrafts, bonsai plants and anthurium plants grown by the public.
Around 100 stalls showcase and sell horticulture-related products, including value-added honey products, nursery plants, seeds, fertilisers, gardening equipment and machinery. Exhibition stalls from various departments are also set up. Vegetable saplings grown by the horticulture department are being sold at the rate of one sapling for Re 1.