Flowers on display at the exhibition. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 23: Smiling lilies, fragrant calendulas, gorgeous roses and a number of exotic flowers caught attention of citizens at the two-day flower show held by the National Aluminium Company Limited (Nalco) at the Nalco Community Centre.

The event, known as Basant Pushpa Pradarshani, that was held on Saturday and Sunday had a wide range of other plants and vegetables on display as well.

The exhibition also included contests. Participants from all over the state had brought a plethora of floral plants and vegetables to showcase at the event. The categories in display included potted plants that had a variety of seasonal flowers like marigolds, dahlias, asters, foliage plants like areca palm, boston ferns and others; a wide number cacti of different shapes and sizes as well as bonsai and non-seasonal plants like roses and lilies. The contest included many categories like vegetables, cut flowers, flower arrangements, vegetable carvings by adults as well as children. There were interesting contests like rangoli making with flower petals, bouquet and garland making and vegetable arrangement.

“We have been organising the event for more than 10 years now. It is wonderful to see that the participation is increasing in terms of cities,” said general manager of administration and corporate communication, Nalco Harish Pradhan.

“A number of private collections as well as institutes took part in the contests,” said Nirmal Mishra, Nalco employee and a member of the organising committee of the flower show.

There were 25 institutes and 72 private participants at the event. “Flowers are one of the most beautiful creations of nature. But the rangolis and flower arrangements displayed here have made them even attractive,” said Sarita Rath, a plant lover.

“It is amazing to see that so many varieties of plants, vegetables and flowers are available in the state that include exotic varieties,” said a college student Ankita Mohanty.

The winners of the contests included C.V. Raman College of Engineering in the institute category while Snigdharani Rout won the private collection title.

A similar flower show was also organised at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on January 15. The display was organised by Lion’s club in association with the Cuttack Muncipal Corporation, Cuttack Development Authority and Orissa Cricket Association. The grand flower show concluded on January 21, while the flowers are yet on display at the stadium.