The Annual Vasantotsav (Spring Festival) will be held at the Raj Bhawan on February 24 and 25. At a meeting chaired by Governor Krishan Kant Paul to review preparations for the event, it was stated that a special postal cover will be released on Jambu (Allium Auriulatum), a medicinal plant found in high altitude areas of the State.
This year, the festival will be inaugurated by the Governor on the morning of February 24 and will be opened for public from midday. On February 25, the event will be open for public from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The prize distribution ceremony will be held on February 25 in which there will be more than 150 prizes in various categories. The Governor said that the festival must aim at giving a boost to floriculture and cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants. Through floriculture, the objective given by Prime Minister Naredra Modi to double the income of farmers can be achieved. He said that farmers of remote areas should be able to view this festival as a platform.
On February 24 evening, folk artistes of Uttarakhand will present a cultural programme. There will also be a food court organised by Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam and Institute of Hotel Management. Bands of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Force and the Indian Military Academy will also perform during the event which will also have the participation of 34 organisations and departments.
A special stamp exhibition will also be part of the event. The governor said that care should be taken to have proper arrangements for the participants and visitors including food, water, toilets and first aid. At the meeting, the governor said that as many children as possible should be encouraged to take part in the painting competition which is a regular feature of this annual flower show.
As in the past years, the Vasantotsav will feature several categories like cut flowers, potted plants arrangements, loose flower arrangement, hanging pots and on-the –spot photography. This spring festival is held every year at the Raj Bhawan by the Horticulture and Food Processing department and features flower exhibition, painting competitions, music and dance events among various other activities. Floral Rangoli, on-the –spot painting competitions and photography and painting exhibitions will be part of Vasantotsav besides stalls put up by organisations like the Forest Research Institute (FRI), ONGC and Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology.
Regarding Jambu on which a special postal cover will be released, it was stated that the plant is used as a flavouring agent and for its medicinal properties. Uttarakhand has a wealth of biodiversity and such flora. Every year at Vasantotsav, people get to know in detail about the particular plant chosen for featuring on the first day cover brought out by the department of posts.
Principal secretary Manisha Panwar, secretary to Governor Ravinath Raman, secretaries Dilip Javalkar, Arvind Singh Hyanki and other department officials concerned were also present in the meeting.