Another rose in the cap of this seven-time winner

CHANDIGARH: Simmi Malhotra, a resident of Sector 16, for all those who thronged the Rose Garden on the second day of the annual rosy affair, does this name ring a bell? For those unfortunate ones, who missed the marvelous event, Simmi was the undisputed eighth-time first prize winner in the dry and fresh flower arrangements category of awards.
The passion to participate in the Rose festival did not fade for Simmi even after her marriage.Not only this, she even passed on this passion to her two children, who too won seven prizes in the Rose fest this year.
Winning the contest consecutively since 2007, Simmi and her children bagged a total of 10 prizes in the flower arrangements event at the Rose festival on Saturday. While Simmi bagged three prizes in arrangements with flowers other than roses, dry flowers and fresh foliage, her children Ankit and Aastha grabbed seven prizes in arrangements with dry flowers, fresh foliage, roses and other flowers. "I had been taking part in floral festivals before my marriage. When living in Panchkula, I started participating in one of the local festivals there, Huda Rose festival. Constant appreciation and bestowed honours motivated and inspired me to take part in other such fests. However, could not continue so after marriage. But 12 years after my marriage, the passion to participate in Rose festival re-ignited in me, and since 2007 I have been winning it," said Simmi.
"I feel elated every time I receive this prize. It a new feeling every time I am awarded. My love for plants, flowers and exotic foliage is a passion has always bore me fruitful results and now even my kids are developing the same passion," she added.
Besides preparing for such floral events, Simmi collects flora and fauna and stores them as treasures at her home to prepare dry and fresh flower arrangements. She focuses all her energy and time in sharing this creative skill with her children and helps them hone theirs.