Vasantholsavam – the spring festival is back in Thiruvananthapuram
Vasantholsavam – the spring festival is back in Thiruvananthapuram. A nine-day long flower show, organized by the tourism department will kick off on January 11 2019. Other than flower show, the event will feature an exhibition-cum-sale of agricultural produce, rare herbs and medicinal plants, and food festivals. It was announced by the Tourism Minister, Kadakampally Surendran.
The event will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on January 11 in front of the Kanakakkunnu Palace. Tourism Minister will chair the function. The expense of the event will be met by sponsorship and ticket sale. It is decided that ten per cent of the funds collected through the sale of ticket will be contributed to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund.
It is reported that 12 institutions, including the Secretariat, Museum-Zoo, Agriculture College, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden, Vikram Sarabhai Space Center, Malabar Botanical Garden, Kerala Forest Research Institute, KIRTADS – Kerala institute for Research Training & Development studies of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Assembly, Botany Department of Kerala University, Ayurveda Research Institute, Poojapura and around 10 plant and flower nurseries will participate in the event.
Cymbidium Orchids
Collection of Cymbidium orchids from north-eastern states, collection of marine plants and terrarium plants, traditional heritage stalls featuring herbal plants and products, indigenous foods of Gothra communities and Agriculture Department stalls will also be some of the attraction of the show.
Different types of juices, sweets, North Indian dishes, Malabar and Kuttanad cuisines, Ramassery idly mela organized by KTDC etc., will bring festive tastes to the event. The food festival is organized at the Sooryakanthi Auditorium. Other than stalls run by the government bodies, stalls of arts and crafts by private concerns will also be part of the show.
Ramassery Idly
A media center run by the Information and Public Relations department will be arranged at the venue. It is announced that prizes will be given to the participating media in different categories such as Best Print Media Reporting, Best Visual Media Reporting and Best News Photography.
The tickets will be available through the counters set up by the Kerala Cooperative Bank near the entrance of the Palace ground and selected nine counters of the bank at various places in the city.
Entry for children below the age of five is free, while Rs 20 will be charged for children in the 5-12 age group. Those above the age of 12 should pay an entry fee of Rs 50. School children in a team of 50 will need to pay only Rs 500. The show is open from 10 am to 8 pm.
