Bhubaneswar: More than a lakh visitors thronged the two-day state-level annual flower show that concluded amid a mad rush for selfies at the Regional Plant Resource Centre on Sunday.

The visitors thronged for a glimpse of the more than 300 varieties of flowers on show at the exhibition.

Varieties of flowering plants such as dahlia, rose, marigold, gerbera, zinnia, petunia, bougainvillea, poinsettia and chrysanthemum, among others, were displayed at the exhibition. Besides a Plant Bazar was also set up at the venue where over 40 nurseries displayed ornamental plants, seeds, seedlings and garden tools.

The Regional Plant Resource Centre organised the show in collaboration with Plant Lovers' Association, Bhubaneswar.

"The ambience, along with the beautiful landscape and colourful flowers, was the perfect background to take pictures," said Sarmistha, a visitor.

The organisers also hosted a garden competition in order to encourage the institutions and individuals to grow flowers and develop gardens to add to the beauty of the city.

Regional Plant Resource Centre authorities said they received several entries for the competition.

"The entries for the show included categories such cut-flower, flower arrangement, group display in potted flowering foliage, vegetable carving and rangoli," said the centre's principal scientist Pratap Chandra Panda.

A flower gate, erected at a cost of around Rs 1 lakh, was the centre of attention at the event.

"This was a great experience as we saw hundreds of flowers. Such events will encourage people to grow flowers in their homes. Besides, it will also push people to maintain their gardens," said Anima Das, a homemaker.