He’s grown 2,500 flowers to cheer up people

LUDHIANA: The onset of winters is a time of the year that Mohinder Pal Singh of Maya Nagar loves because he can grow varieties of chrysanthemums to his heart’s content and enjoy their beauty.
This time round, a display of 2,500 of Mohinder’s flowers in a variety of colours are cheering up devotees visiting Gurdwara Dukhniwaran Sahib. Mohinder has grown them for the gurdwara as an act of charity and also because there is hardly any space left in his house for one more flower pot.
‘‘Developing other flowers does not require creativity but with chrysanthemums one can give any shape or look that is why I grow only these flowers,’’ said Mohinder. Running a showroom in Ghumar Mandi, Mohinder said it is difficult for him to spare time for any other activity but he never forgets his flowers. On working days, he spends four hours in the morning with chrysanthemums while Sunday is entirely dedicated to growing them.
He developed spider, snowball
Mohinder said he has varieties like spider, snowball, sonar bangla, casagranda, anmol and Mother Teresa. ‘‘They have a strong hold over me so I cannot stop myself from developing them. Other residents should also grow similar interests so that there is more greenery and beauty around,’’ he added. Mohinder said he wanted to participate in the recently-held chrysanthemum show in Punjab Agricultural University but was quite disappointed because the authorities refused his entry claiming that it was not open for public. Over 20 years, his wife Nirmaljit Kaur has got used to Mohinder’s preoccupation in the winter months. ‘‘He remains busy either with work or with these flowers. They are his passion and for many years I have seen him unable to think about anything else during this season. Earlier, we had over 3,000 flower pots at our house and the space used to fall short."