Chrysanthemum charisma

Jasmine Singh 

Shining bright in earthen pots, with fractured light falling on their creamy petals; the yellow, white, pink... at the 32nd Chrysanthemum show in Chandigarh, it is a pure spectacle of colour. 

Moira, Orange Fairlady, Dream Goosling, Doughlas Fox Bill, William Turner, Rosty Whiskey... and in between Korean and Satish Modi —- a perfect example of unity and diversity stands at the entrance of the flower show, where English names of some chrysanthemums might want you to Google their origin! Or you can tell yourself, ‘what’s in a name’ and bend a little to catch the strong fragrance of Genghis Khan, another pretty chrysanthemum! 

Right click

Neatly lined up in rows, chrysanthemums are indeed the main attraction of the show, but it depends how do you chose to see them, with your naked eye or through the 13 or 27 mega-pixel front and back camera of your smart-phone! Most of those who had come to enjoy the blossoms chose to see this beautiful display of nature through the camera’s eye rather than their own! 

“I would rather soak the beauty of these flowers, but my 24-year-old daughter, Harman Sikka, wants to click in the backdrop of chrysanthemums,” smiles Anita Sikka, a homemaker from Sector-30, who is a regular at the show. 

Young & old

A boat made of chrysanthemum flowers would make you sing Kishore Kumar’s Oh Majhi Re Apna Kinaara (if you love old songs) or My Love Will Go On from Hollywood film Titanic! 

The first day of the show did not see a huge crowd, but the balmy Friday afternoon did get some old people and young children out of their quilts, and some ‘genuine’ chrysanthemum-lovers too. Jarnail Singh, an ex-government employee from Mohali, not only makes notes about the flowers he sees, but also talks to the gardeners. 

“I have dedicated my garden to chrysanthemums and roses, but I don’t contest for any competitions,” says Jarnail Singh, who believes beauty should be admired and not judged. 

As for the kids, they can be kept busy on a Mickey Mouse bubble swing or what many parents were doing — ‘engaging them in photographs’.

In the garden of chrysanthemums, there is indeed ample space to engage in various activities. 

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