Delhi thinks tall, night bonsai show

NEW DELHI: For those who think that Delhi’s night life is a bit restrictive in terms of stimulation of the senses, it’s time to look forward to something extra. After all, the idea of having a dekko at over 200 different bonsai works, under a starry sky, doesn’t sound like a bad idea. Moreover the unusual venue — The Garden of Five senses — may just become a hot spot for post-dusk birds.
The Delhi Government is planning to organise a three-day bonsai festival, a first in itself, in the city soon.It is being planned to be organised in collaboration with the Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation (DTTDC) and Bonsai Association of India (BAI). The festival will feature works of many international experts.
Though officials are tight-lipped about the festival as of now, an official of the tourism department said: "Watching expert bonsai works, especially by night will be a novel experience for people."
In fact, three bonsai experts from Japan, Indonesia and United Kingdom will be there for the city’s bonsai lovers to take tips from. The experts will conduct demonstrations at the venue on how to take up bonsai, which plants to begin with, how to take care of the plant and so on.
The idea, which was floated over a month ago, is said to be the brainchild of the chief minister Sheila Dikshit. The festival is slated to take place sometime in February, when it isn’t bone numbing cold in the city. Till now only BAI had been organising an annual bonsai exhibition.
The tourism department is also in the process of tying up with ITC and Air India so that the international experts have a pleasant stay and an alternative venue is available for
displaying the exquisite stunted plants, just in case.