One of the events at Lalbagh that the citizens of Bangalore, always look forward to is the Republic Day Flower Show. The weather is always very pleasant, and the beautiful displays in the Glass House are a great attraction for the visitors to this lung-space of our city.

Having seen the displays each year, I thought I will go and see how it’s all put together. So, by 630am, I was in Lalbagh with some friends. When I told the guards that I was from Citizen Matters and wanted to cover the preparations, they allowed me into the Glass House. I thoroughly enjoyed what had already been put up, and watched the process of creating the Buddhist Stupa, the central attraction this year.

Apart from the Stupa, I found groups of gardeners and artists, working on the "Flower Pouring Out of a Pot" exhibit, and several other floor-level displays.

Pic: S Srinivasan

Pic: S Srinivasan

Pic: S Srinivasan

Pic: S Srinivasan

Pic: S Srinivasan

Pic: S Srinivasan

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I spoke to Krishnamoorthy, who is with the Horticulture Department, who was working on the floral creation. He has a team of 14 people and was very enthusiastic about the preparations. The preparations, and the sourcing of the flowers and other greens required, start about ten days before the Republic Day.

"For us, it is a matter of pride to create these lovely pieces for the people to come, see and admire," he added. "In the past, we had problems with the flowers fading by the time the actual day came around, but now, thanks to the flower foam (a foam material which can hold the flower stems in a damp condition, preventing them from withering), we are more confident."

I was hoping to meet people like the Dutch floral designer, Ton Van Jaarsveld, who have been asked to design some of the displays, but they were going to be coming in later in the day.

Nrithyanjali, a local group, has put up a theme of the various Dances of India, including the famous Dollu Kunitha of Karnataka. The arrangements are very creative.

The other flowers and pots are slowly being brought by the various participants in the competitions, and arranged around the Glass House. The entire area was a hive of activity, with stalls being put up for vendors and exhibitors.

Several walkers and joggers in Lalbagh were also attracted to the Glass House, but were, of course, held at a distance by security personnel. "I am elderly, and cannot brave the crowds on Republic Day, so I like watching how they are creating it, when I come for a walk in the morning," said Lalitha Siddappa, one of the visitors, who had come for her morning walk.

Gardeners also had folded pieces of turf that they had brought from the nursery, and were laying these on all the edges of the displays, to give a better effect. "You can buy them at the nursery if you like," said one of them. "Two of these folded pieces of turf are Rs. 350. You just lay them on your well-dug up earth, and you have a lawn in no time." He said.

Iqbal, another visitor, said that he prefers the Republic Day Flower Show to the Independence Day one. The weather is very pleasant now, and the flowers last much longer," he smiles. He visits Lalbagh every day, and says, poetically: "The gardens are like a lady, beautiful at all times, but adorning herself especially now, for spring and summer to arrive."

The lights were also being tested at the Glass House, and it looked very beautiful in the pre-dawn light. "Yes, we know that it will consume a lot of electricity," said an electrician who was working nearby. "But this is something for all the people of Bangalore and everywhere else to come and enjoy."

I wanted to ask what arrangements have been made to contain the litter around the gardens, but could not find anyone who had the contract for the cleaning up of the area at that early hour. I do hope that this time we can manage the trash better, and we will not have a festoon of litter after the public show is over.

It felt very pleasant to be a part of one of the public events of Bangalore. I walked off feeling a lot of pride in the beauty Bangalore florists can create for us.

The flower show is on till 29 January and is open to public between 8am and 7pm. No entry after 6pm.
Fees: Adult- Rs. 40, Kids- Rs. 20. No extra charges for cameras.⊕