The upcoming annual flower show hosted by Horticultural Society, Jamshedpur, will be more than just visual delight.

The 28th Annual Flower Show, to be held at Gopal Maidan in Jamshedpur from December 24-27, will raise green concerns with "Conservation of Biodiversity" as its theme.

Nitin Madan Kulkarni, secretary of agriculture, animal husbandry and co-operative department, will inaugurate the flower show on December 24 as chief guest, along with Sunil Bhaskaran, Tata Steel vice-president, corporate services. Tata Steel MD T.V. Narendran, will be the chief guest at the closing ceremony on December 27.

Tata Steel and Jusco are co-organisers of the flower show.

Addressing the media at the Centre for Excellence on Thursday, chairperson of the Horticultural Society Ruchi Narendran said this year's show would be full of surprises.

"Since biodiversity is very important, we wish to generate mass awareness through the exhibits. There will be cleanliness messages, asking the people to be more responsible towards nature and their surroundings," she said.

Narendran added Tata Trust would set up a kiosk to educate visitors on cashless transactions for the first time.

From now, the city's annual event has been included as a part of the Jamshedpur Fest.

N.M. Ishwar, programme director of International Union for Conservation of Nature, India, will conduct a technical session for the delegates at the flower show.

"We will also share best gardening practices in our technical sessions," said Baren Maity, general secretary of the Horticultural Society.

The news meet was also attended by Madhulika Sharma, chief, corporate sustainability, Tata Steel.

The main event, however, will be conventional. This year too the competition is broadly divided into Institutional and Amateur categories with 10 sections each - potted seasonal flowers, perennial flowers, potted fruits and vegetables, potted foliage plants, cacti and succulents, bonsai, cut flowers, bouquets, medicinal and aromatic plants.

The flower show will have 85 stalls in total. There will be gardening equipment and saplings stalls as well.

Besides, a sit-and-draw will be organised for school students and children with special needs. There will be cultural programmes too.

The entry fee for visitors will be Rs 10 per head.