Preparations for Basantotsav 2014 have started at Raj Bhavan. A meeting was organized on Friday, chaired by secretary to Governor Arun Dhondiyal to fix the date and theme of the annual event.
It was decided at the meeting to make the flower exhibition more industrially significant , knowledgeable and popular. The final dates of Basantotsav have not yet een fixed. It is likely that it will be held in the last week of February or first week of March. A handicrafts exhibition based on horticulture and forestry will be part of the event besides cultural programmes and a food court.
The festival will aim at strengthening the link between floiriculture and the State’s economic development.Dhondhiyal said that it would be appropriate to include the participation of the dairy development, weather, disaster management and other departments related to horticulture/ agriculture. Contests will be held in various categories and stalls by several departments and organisations will be put up.
The entry to Basantotsav will be free. Children who are underprivileged or physically and mentally challenged will be specially invited to the event. Painting competitions will be held for children besides other entertaining programmes. The meeting considered making Crataegus Crenulata or Skimmia laureola (medicinal plants found in Uttarkhand) the theme of the festival.
This festival will, this year, make people aware about issues like natural disasters, environment and afforestation. Use of Jute and cloth bags will be encouraged and a campaign against social evils like female foeticide and crime against women will be carried out during the fest. Another meeting will be soon held to decide on the dates and theme of the festival.
The meeting today was attended by Principal Secretary (Agriculture) DrRanbir Singh, Director (Horticulture) Dr IA Khan, Security and PWD Officers of Raj Bhavan, Comptroller (Raj Bhavan) Pramod Chamoli and assistant supervisor (Horticulture) Deepak Purohit.