KOLLAM: The ten-day Kollam Flower Show will begin with a `flower rally’ on January 16.
The 18th flower show is being organised under the auspices of the Kollam Agri Horticultural and Zoological Society. District administration, Kollam Corporation, District Panchayat and DTPC are also involved in the organisation of the festival.
Addressing a news conference here on Wednesday, District Collector A. Shajahan said that there would be hundreds of stalls of flower plants, agricultural crops, seeds, fruits and ornamental fish at the show to be held at the children’s park at Ashramam.
Arts competitions, cookery competition, dogs show and food festival have also been planned as part of the show which will conclude on January 26.
The flower rally, which is to begin from the Anandavalleeswaram temple premises at 4.30 p.m., will be flagged off by SP M.R. Ajithkumar. The rally will proceed through Taluk office and Chamakkada main road and culminate at the children’s park at Ashramam.
Labour and Excise Minister P.K. Gurudasan will inaugurate the flower show.
Mayor N.Padmalochanan will preside over the function.
P. Rajendran MP will inaugurate the food festival. People will be allowed to the flower show venue from Saturday morning.
The `flower queen,’ `flower baby’ and `flower king’ will be selected from the flower rally. The best decorated vehicle also will be given prize.
Various types of roses, Orchids, Anthurium, Hydrangea, Jareebra, Euphorbia, Chrysanthemum, Dianthus, Marigold, Verbena, Cosmos, Dahlia, Petunia etc. will be showcased in the show. Leaf plants, Bougainville, Bonsai and other plants will be the other attraction of the show.
Awareness campaign on soil and water conservation methods and bio insecticides will be held as part of the show. Fisheries Department has also arranged a stall of ornamental fish.
There will be flower arrangement competition for school and college students on January 17 and 18.
Competition on vegetable cutting, carving and salad dressing will be held at 9 a.m. on January 20. Cookery competition will be held on Janaury 21 at 11 a.m. At 3 p.m., competition on making cakes with icing will be held.
Competition to select 'nalan’ will also be held. Those cooking 1 kg of chicken as per the direction of the committee will be given the title of 'nalan.’ Cash award will be given to the first three winners.
On January 21 morning, competition will be held on making jam, squash, wine, pickles, fruit punch, vegetable bake, chicken kebab, prawn etc will be held.
On January 17, various cultural programmes will be held. Students of various colleges and schools will be attending the programme. DTPC will organise tribal cultural programmes on January 24.
Students up to high school level will be allowed entry with a concessional rate of Rs 5.