Himanshi Kaintura & Shreejal Semwal (School of Media and Communication Studies, Doon University, Dehradun)
PrashantNews
Despite heavy rains, a large number of people holding umbrellas turned up at the Raj Bhawan Dehradun to see the vasantotsav which concluded on Sunday.
The Raj Bhawan remained adorned with vibrant hues and melodies as the festival showcased the rich heritage and cultural diversity of Uttarakhand during the three days festival.
State Governor Lt. Gen. Gurmit Singh (Retd.) had inaugurated the festival on Friday.
Initiated in 2007, the ‘Spring Festival’ has become a beloved tradition, symbolizing renewal, rejuvenation, and the promise of vibrant colourful flowers. The aroma of fresh flowers wafted through the air, mingling with the sounds of laughter and joy echoing through the gardens of the Raj Bhawan.
P K Gupta said, “As a local from Dehradun, I’ve always looked forward to this festival, and I must say, it never disappoints. Despite the rains, we enjoyed at Raj Bhawan.”
After a record 3 lakh plus footfalls, the three-day Vasantotsav concluded on a sublime note after featuring hundreds of species of flowers, diverse cultural performances, a range of competitions, exhibitions of indigenous products and artistry, musical days and folk art performances in the cultural evenings.
During the three days, a large number of people enjoyed the natural beauty of flowers and other programs.
ONGC received this year’s Chal Vaijanti (Running Trophy) in Vasanthotsav-2024. This year ONGC received awards in 5 categories, IIT Roorkee in 4 categories. In Vasantotsav, 153 awards were distributed in 53 sub-categories of 15 categories. The Governor Gurmeet Singh honored the winners.
In his speech, the Governor said despite the adverse weather conditions, the enthusiasm of the people in the flower show this year was unprecedented. He said that a large number of people have participated in this flower exhibition and ensured their participation in making this festival of spring a celebration for the people. He said that during these three days, there was an atmosphere of joy and happiness around the Raj Bhavan, in which about 3 lakh people participated. The Governor said the flower business will bring growth in the economy and will definitely bring prosperity in the state. He said that the participation of women in various stalls has made this festival even better. In the closing ceremony, the Governor congratulated all the winners, participants and the main organizer of the exhibition, Horticulture Department, Culture Department and all the supporting departments for successfully organizing the festival.
On this occasion, Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi said that there has been record participation of people in this Vasantotsav-2024. He said that efforts are being made to double the income of farmers by promoting agriculture and horticulture. Flower cultivation is being promoted during Chardham Yatra.