Beneath the bright sunshine and in the company of breath-taking varied-coloured chrysanthemums, the closing ceremony of the 28th Chrysanthemum Show Competition-cum-Sale hosted a huge rush of flower and garden lovers in addition to the enthusiastic participation of 200 entries from across the city. In the midst of soft murmurs and whispers, dazzled the unique beauty of chrysanthemums, which have since ages been knowable for transferring the spectators from pensive moods to ecstatic moods as well as loneliness to gladness. The show was successfully organised with the joint cooperation of the Department of Floriculture and Landscaping (DFL) as well as the Estate Organization of PAU.
The chief guest Dr MS Bhullar, Director of Extension Education, congratulated the organizers and the winners for keeping the floriculture momentum steady. “The pressing issues of water, weather and economic uncertainties are compelling Punjab to divert the route towards horticultural crops for a collective solution to the emerging problems and proliferation of the agrarian ecology as well as the economy,” he observed. Later, he distributed the prizes among the winners.
The guest of honour Dr RIS Gill, Dean, College of Horticulture and Forestry as well as Estate Officer, said that floriculture and landscaping have invited the interests of the public at large and made exemplary contributions to the rural and urban development in terms of massive flower cultivation and production, beautification of surroundings, and financial prosperity of the growers. He congratulated the participants and the winning individuals, educational institutions, organizations, nurseries, etc. for participating whole-heartedly in the competition and keeping alive their strong penchant for flower growing.
Dr Parminder Singh, Head, DFL, informed that nearly 4,000 pots of bright-hued chrysanthemums were on display at the show. Expressing immense happiness at the unparalleled response to the show, Dr Singh divulged the development of a new variety ‘Punjab Anuradha,’ which has got its nomenclature from the old PAU student, who had wilfully conducted research for its evolvement.
The visitors, thronging the show, said, “True beauty lies in the Chrysanthemum Show of PAU.” Among the prize-winners were schools comprising Delhi Public School, Jhammat; BCM School, Shastri Nagar; DAV Public School, BRS Nagar; and Sant Ishar Singh Public School, Rara Sahib, and individuals, namely, Dr Seerat Singh Sekhon, Dr Jogeet Singh Sekhon, Dr SK Makkar, Mr Mahindar Pal Singh, Mr Harikesh Kumar, Mr Adesh Singh Sekhon, Mrs Radhika Kumari and Mr Charandeep Singh. Gurdwara Karamsar, Rara Sahib, also made it to the prize-winning list. All these winners bagged the first and the second prizes in different categories of the show.