Delhi's iconic Garden Tourism Festival begins tomorrow
Take some time out to celebrate the hues of Mother Nature and the fervor of the spring season Delhi Tourism in association with the Delhi Government is organizing the 35th edition of the Garden Tourism Festival (GTF) in the city at Garden of Five Senses, Saket. Showcasing the rich floriculture of Delhi, the festival will be held from Friday to Sunday (February 17-19).
Heaven for anthophiles
Over 300 different types of foreign plants and flowers will be on display in the garden in Said-Ul-Ajaib Village, near the Saket Metro station. Flowers such as roses, hibiscus, protea, Arabia coffee from the US, UK, and South Africa, as well as native lotus will be on display. The objective is to create awareness about the environment and illustrate Delhi's lavish floriculture.
Dy. CM Manish Sisodia will inaugurate the festival
Officials said Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia will be inaugurating the festival on February 17. The theme this year is "Garden of Unity," which is in reference to India assuming the G20 presidency. The exhibition will showcase a display of terrariums, floral animals, potted plants, medicinal & herbal plants, foliage, hanging baskets, dahlia, roses, bonsai, cacti, bougainvillea, cut flowers, nursery stalls, etc.
Cultural events and competitions to be organized
Cultural programs held in the evenings will feature amateur musicians, music bands, and other artists, magic shows, and painting competitions for children. The festival is also going to house various food stalls where people will get to savor different delicacies. Competitions would be organized in 32 categories including potted plants, floral animals, theme gardens, vegetable flower decoration, and flower arrangements among others.
It will make for an unforgettable sight: Delhi Tourism department
"The park will provide space for public leisure and the sprawling gardens filled with innumerable flowers will make for an unforgettable sight," said the Delhi Tourism department in a press release. They informed further, "This annual festival presents floral displays, theme gardens, horticultural demonstrations, and other activities. All the exhibits during GTF are evaluated by judges having dominion knowledge of the respective horticulture area."
Major participants in the festival
This year some of the major participants are the horticulture departments of New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Northern Railway, Archaeological Survey of India, Central Public Works Department, Hero Moto Corp, among others. Officials said Delhi Tourism would provide a free shuttle service from Saket Metro Station (T-Point) to the venue and back for visitors.
