This Independence Day, it’ll be a floral salute to armed forces

BENGALURU: This year’s Independence Day flower show at Lalbagh Botanical Gardens will pay a floral tribute to the

armed forces

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The show hopes to acquaint visitors with tanks, missiles, fighter jets, military-grade radars and helicopters, all in floral form. This apart, there will be informative displays on the history, achievements and important operations of the Army, Navy and Air Force. Paddy grass will be used to make some of the war equipment, said the event organisers.

A model of the famed Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate, New Delhi, will greet visitors at the entrance of the glasshouse. It’ll be a visual treat with different types of Indian terrain replicated using flowers. Among other things, a replica of Indian forces standing guard at Siachen are being designed using flowers from The Netherlands and Ooty.

36 experts and Rs 2 crore

The show has been conceptualised by a team of 36 experts over nine days, and the cost is pegged at Rs 2 crore. Floral pyramids at each corner of the glasshouse using 25,000 flower pots, a replica of a lighthouse with 15,000 flowers and plants, and a lion made of 25,000 brown flowers point to the scale of the show. Also on display will be 85 varieties of rare flowers. To keep the glasshouse cool, misting technology from Israel is being used. Visitors will also be able to enjoy music through live performances that will be recorded and broadcast on select radio channels.

Tribute to Sandalwood

The secondary theme of this year’s flower show will be 85 years of the Kannada film industry. Largescale floral models of old film reels, clapboard and cameras will be on display, and these would be replaced thrice a day to keep the arrangements fresh. The show will be inaugurated on August 4 by chief minister HD Kumaraswamy.