Two-day spring festival begins at Raj Bhawan

Uttarakhand Raj Bhawan was ablaze with colours today with Governor Aziz Qureshi declaring the two-day annual spring festival (Basantotsav) open.
As the festival got underway at 11 am the Raj Bhawan gates were flung open for people to move in and have a look at the wide variety of flowers on display.
About 300 florists are participating this year in the event which is likely to receive around 10,000 visitors.
The first day cover of the event prepared by India Post featuring Kedarpatri (Skimia Laureola), a medicinal plant unique to Uttarakhand, was also released by the Governor to mark the beginning of event.

Ghingaroo (Crataegus Crenulata), which is consumed by wild animals and birds and is also used by the locals to make fences around their fields, has been chosen as the theme of the event.
The finale of the event tomorrow will be marked by various cultural programmes followed by Governor distributing prizes to winners of various contests being held as part of it.

The festival has been held for the past several years at Raj Bhavan to promote floriculture and create an interest among people in environment and nature. The folk culture of the state is also highlighted at the annual event.

Like previous years, commercial and individual flower growers as well as various government organisations which maintain gardens are participating in the festival.
Floral rangoli contest, painting competition for children, photo and painting exhibition are being held as part of the event.