Rose Festival off to a colourful start

The much-awaited 53rd Rose Festival kicked off at Rose Garden with great enthusiasm and fanfare. The three-day event was inaugurated by Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, in the presence of Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla, today.

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VP Singh, Principal Secretary to the Governor; Amit Kumar, Commissioner of Municipal Corporation (MC); Jasbir Singh Bunty, Senior Deputy Mayor; Taruna Mehta, Deputy Mayor; Saurabh Joshi, area councillor; and other prominent officials were also present at the inaugural ceremony.

During his address, Kataria commended the efforts of MC employees and officers for organising the event. He also highlighted the rose’s significance as the ‘Queen of Flowers,’ symbolising love, compassion and eternal beauty. He described the Rose Garden as a place where a stroll feels like reading a story.

The Governor emphasised that the festival’s success lies in the high level of public participation, with many engaging events, including the first-ever ‘Zero Budget’ show organised by the MC.

Mayor Babla said the festival would feature competitions for all age groups, including Rose Prince and Princess, Mr and Miss Rose, and Rose King and Queen for senior citizens. She praised the MC team for organising the event. She added that it was a matter of great satisfaction to see the tremendous interest and enthusiasm shown by different sections of society through their active participation in the festival.

Mayor Babla said this year, the MC has introduced a food court to meet the visitors’ needs, along with improved sanitation facilities. The festival also includes displays highlighting the talents of self-help groups.

Amit Kumar shared that the event would include cultural activities, photography exhibitions and a game zone for children, with 829 varieties of roses adorning the garden. The festival also features brass and pipe band competitions, Nirol Babeyan da Bhangra and a cultural evening.

The MC Commissioner announced that this year’s event would be a ‘Zero Waste’ initiative, with displays promoting the Swachh Bharat Mission, including waste segregation and anti-plastic campaigns. He mentioned that the MC had secured sponsorship to ensure the continuation of cash prizes for the winners across all categories.

Earlier, the Governor also inaugurated a Selfie booth and Swachhata Stall, showcasing various cleanliness initiatives, including waste segregation at source and composting from kitchen waste. Throughout the day, artistes performed, including Rajasthani dance, Bhangra, Ghoomar and other cultural performances. The Tribune is the media partner of the event.