Lalbagh to pay floral tribute to Mysore’s last Maharaja

Slug: I-Day Flower ShowBengaluru: This Independence Day Flower Show at Lalbagh will pay tribute to Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar, the last Maharaja of the princely state of Mysore, on his birth centenary. Themed the ‘Life and contributions of Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar’, the 210th flower show will be inaugurated at 11am on August 9 by chief minister BS Yediyurappa. It’ll be on till August 18. With 12.5 cut flowers, 9.5 lakh potted plants and 7 lakh ground flowers in use, the spectacle will have several sections. A massive floral model of Mysuru’s Jayachamaraja Circle — made of 1,50,000 red roses, 50,000 white roses, 50,000 orange flowers, 3,000 orchids and 4,500 leaves — will welcome visitors at the Glass House. A replica of Jayachamaraja Wadiyar’s statur will be placed at the centre. Around 15 experts worked on the model for 15 days. A total of five lakh flowers will be used as they will be changed twice.“Over six lakh visitors are expected each day. Ninety-two varieties of annual flowering plants will be a major attraction this year,” M Jagadeesh, joint director of horticulture (parks and gardens), said at a press conference in Lalbagh on Tuesday.Replicas of the Mysuru throne, an elephant carrying the golden howdah and a durbar scene have also been created. The 3-ft tall throne is made of wood, fabrics and cushions and decorated with flowers. The elephant replica will be decorated with 40,000 roses and chrysanthemums.Pramoda Devi Wadiyar and scion of the Mysuru royal family, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, will be the chief guests.Replicas of musical instruments Owing to the late Maharaja’s love of music, flower replicas of keyboard (6 feet), veena (2 feet) and other instruments will be showcased. Over one lakh red, yellow and white roses will be used.Various development works which were undertaken by Mysore rulers will also be displayed near the throne. More than 100 photos of the Maharaja, summing up his life, will be on display at the exhibition.Four models of eco-friendly roofs and vertical gardens will also be displayed. While 1,800 plants, including rare species like gold plant, philodendron and zebrine, will be used to portray the concept of terrace garden, 4,200 flowers will form a vertical garden.Outside the Glass House, a dancing peacock, replica of the miracle garden of Dubai (heart-shaped flower arch) and decoration of hanging flowers will be sights to behold, according to Lalbagh officials.Jagadeesh said BMRCL will operate Metro services with increased frequency.Tickets & timingsEntrance fee for adults is Rs 70 and children Rs 20. The tickets will be sold at all entry points from 9.30am to 6pm. Entry to Glass House will close at 7pm. Tickets can be purchased online through Bookmyshow or Paytm. Except on August 11, 12 and 15, entry will be free for schoolchildrenSecurity arrangementsRohini Katoch Sepat, DCP south, said with holidays lined up, visitor rush will be more. A total of 350 police personnel will be deployed and 100 CCTVs will monitor the crowdNo-plastic zoneVolunteers from Saahas, a Bengaluru-based waste management company, will make sure waste is segregated; 30 volunteers expect generation of over 2 tonnes of dry waste and over 5 tonnes of wet waste per day. With strict implementation of no-plastic zone, they expect less dry waste this year. Use of steel plates will reduce trash. “We will ensure plastic bottles or bags are not allowed,” Jagadeesh said.Vehicle entry and parkingPublic vehicles won’t be allowed inside Lalbagh from any of the four gates. Only schoolbuses and vehicles with differently-abled people will be allowed through the Double Road entrance.Visitors can park vehicles at the multistorey parking lot at Shantinagar bus stand, Al-Ameen College grounds (two-wheelers only) and BBMP multistorey car park on JC Road