Beats and blooms turn crowdpullers at Rose Festival

A cultural programme, multiple performances and competitions marked the second day of the three-day Rose Festival being organized at the namesake Rose Garden.

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A Sufi musical performance by Balbir and Punjabi music show by Lopoke Brothers were among the major hightlights of the second day.

Balbir and Group Punjabi Musical Show arranged by the Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademy and Punjabi Music Show by Lopoke Brothers enthralled the audience on the main stage at Rose Garden.

Singer Monali Thakur, meanwhile, held the audience captive with her live performance in the evening.

Municipal Corporation (MC) Commissioner Amit Kumar was the chief guest during the cultural performance by Lopoke Brothers, while Deputy Mayor Taruna Mehta was the chief guest during the Sufiana Gayan by Sufi Balbir and Group.

Among the others draws for the day were the Rose Prince and Rose Princess and the photography competition, which were followed by the cultural programme featuring various dances performances.

Other performancse included those by the artistes of North Zone Culture Centre (NZCC) and others from local schools and colleges. Different competitions and shows including traditional folk dance of Punjab (Bhangra) and Rajasthan (Ghoomar) were also organised on the second day.

Big winners

The results for the Rose Prince across various age categories was also announced, with Ayansh Singh winning and Rudra Sharma coming in second in the 1 to 1.5 years category, Prabhek and Shriyan Gupta in 1.5 to 2 years, Dilshaan Singh and Saathwik in 2 to 3 years.

The Rose Princess 1 to 1.5 years title was won by Avreen, while Ayzel Prabhakar was the runner up. Similarly, Laranya Vashishta and Vanya Sood bagged wins for 1.5 to 2 years and Veda Arora and Lavanya Malik for 2 to 3 years.

Wazir Chander Gupta and Parkash Kaur Ahluwalia were crowned the Rose King and Queen, respectively, while Subhash Chander Gupta and Kusum Lata Gupta won the Best Couple contest, followed by Shashi Kumar and Rajni Salwan.

Mohd Monish and Bhavesh Joshi of the Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 39 C won the Rose Quiz, while Princi and Gunjan of the Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 16 came in second. Prize Diksha and Srijan of the Government College of Education Sector 20 won the quiz in the college category, while Mansi and Seerat Kaur of the Government College of Education Sector 20 were the runners-up.

The photography competition's professional category prizes went to Deepak Arora, Choginder Gupta and Kawaljit Singh, while Aarti Khurana, Udayveer Singh and Kavleen Kaur took home the prizes in the amateur category.

A sweep in flower competitions

Sanjay Thareja and his wife Ranjni Thareja, directors of The Gurukul schools, claimed 37 prizes at the ongoing 53rd Rose Festival. The duo dominated the competition with their prize-winning entries across categories including stock, rose, marigold, cacti, succulents among others.

Sanjay Thareja said he got inspiration from his mother, Kamlesh Thareja, adding, “I grew up watching her tend to plants with unwavering devotion. This passion quietly became a part of me."