BANGALORE: The Independence Day flower show at Lalbagh Botanical Gardens, which concluded on Sunday, saw a record collection of around Rs 1.7 crore since its inauguration on August 8.
This is the highest collection by the Gardens in more than a century, since the flower show was started in 1912 by Mysore Maharajas.
Speaking to Express, Kodandaramaiah, vice-president, Mysore Horticulture Society, said the response was excellent this year.
“What we have earned has equalled our expenditure. There is little in terms of profit. However, by far, this year’s flower show has broken all records in terms of collection. Though several people managed to gain entry without buying a ticket, it has not significantly affected the money collected,” he maintained.
This year, around 5.5 lakh people from the state and outside visited the gardens compared to 2013 when the show drew around 4 lakh visitors, he said.
On Sunday alone, the show saw a footfall of 75,000-1 lakh people.
The 2013 Independence Day flower show generated a revenue of around Rs 1.26 crore. This year’s Republic Day show too collected over Rs 1 crore.
Kodandaramaiah said the revenue generated could have been even higher.
“We decided to let children in for free on three days. Considering that over a lakh children visited the gardens on these three days, we could have made much more. But it is alright and we are proud of our achievement,” he added. The floral replica of the Mysore Palace was the biggest draw this year.
Over three lakh roses were used to recreate the structure and the Dasara procession including the tusker carrying the golden howdah with the idol of goddess Chamundeshwari. There were also stalls selling seeds, saplings, fruits, vegetables and fertilisers. A special herb garden with 200 varieties of medicinal plants was set up to commemorate the 200th edition of the show this year.