Sikkim Flower Festival, 2011 kick starts in the capital

The yearlong “Sikkim Flower Festival, 2011” commenced in the capital from 17th March will continue till the same date next year. The festival was inaugurated by Minister, Department of Tourism Mr. Bhim Dhungel also the chief guest for the occasion along with Minister, Commerce and Industries Miss Neeru Sewa and Area MLA, Gangtok Mr. Dorjee Namgyal Bhutia.

The flower festival is organized by Sikkim Flower Festival Committee at the Flower Exhibition Centre of Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal Memorial park near White Hall complex, Gangtok.

Unlike, the previous years, the number of pots has increased from 30 to 2000 pots with 500 varieties of hybrid cymbidiums (orchids). The Orchid Show will last till May this year and after that the seasonal flowers will be displayed according to the seasons. Local growers and few from Darjeeling, West Bengal participated in the Orchid Show in which Mr. Milan Rai of Mirik, West Bengal won the Sikkim Flower Orchid Award, 2011for the consecutive sixth year.

Certain divisions were categorized as Division A with an amount of Rs 1lakh to the winner and Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 respectively for 1st and 2nd runners up. The participants had to display 70 pots Cymbidium Hybrids in bloom. Division B and C with prize amount of Rs 2,500/-, Rs 2,000/- and Rs 1,500/- for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in this category the partakers had to display 3 pots minimum. Division D 1st prize Rs 2,500/- and 2nd prize Rs 2,000/- and in Division E Rs 12,000/- 1st Prize and for the 2nd Rs 8,000/-. In Division D the participants displayed a total of 5 pots of Dendrobium Hybrid whereas in Division E they had to display 50 different species of natural orchids (not hybrids) with proper scientific name plates. Division B and C were basically for the public participants such as housewives or flower lovers who are not professional floriculturists but have the enthusiasm to partake.

The participants were judged on the basis of artistic arrangement, health of the plant, maximum number of variety and number of new introductions. The Sikkim Flower Festival Committee has become self sufficient and sustainable therefore all the festival cum competition have been sponsored by the Committee but until last year the festival was sponsored by the Nayuma family.

Pleased with the sixth consecutive win Mr. Milan Rai said that every year he participates with the aim of winning and every year he succeeds. He had displayed 70 pots of 45 varieties of Cymbidium Hybrids and assumes that the color, cork and stalk formation and bloom of his displayed Cymbidium Hybrids adjudged him as the winner of the Sikkim Flower Festival Orchid Award. Mr. Rai has also been participating in other flower fests organised at Namchi and Rabong as well.

Adding further Mr. Rai advised the unemployed youth to go for floriculture as floriculture is the best way to get self employed and there is a good profit in the floriculture business. The inauguration was also attended by the officials from the Department of Forest, Environment and Wildlife Department along with the school students, tourists and locals.

Courtesy: Sikkim Mail

 

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