Barinder Saluja, Chandigarh,Feb. 25: The most awaited festival of Chandigarh, Rose Festival, brings cheers & smiles on the faces of lots of people every year. But this year , the commencement of 2011 Rose Festival brought smiles & cheers on the faces of differently abled Children, from State Institute of Blind, who had won the Folk Dance competition, at Zakir Rose Garden, Sector 16, Chandigarh. They had also won the third Prize in the National Level Folk Dance.
This Competition was held in two Categories. It was in the School Category in which State Institute of Blind, Sector 26 bagged the first prize while Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 16 and Guru Gobind Senior Secondary School, Sector 35 got the 2nd and 3rd places respectively. In College category Khalsa College, Sector 26 won the 1st prize while Government Home Science College, Sector 10 and Post Graduate Government College , Sector 46 bagged the 2nd and 3rd prize respectively. The First, Second and Third Prize carries an amount of Rs 5000/-, Rs 3000/-, Rs 2000/- respectively.
Governor and UT Administrator, Sh. Shivraj V Patil, inaugurated and presided over the the function as the chief guest and highly appreciated the efforts of all the participants. He exclusively mentioned the daring efforts of the children from the blind school who performed the famous folk dance of Punjab, Bhangra, and congratulated them for their valiant effort and for setting up an example for the handicapped. He said that these are the one who teach us how to live. Describing the Rose Festival of Chandigarh, as one of the best flower festivals in the country, Mr Patil said that this festival is not only limited to the flower show but also serves a lot to its visitors. The exhilarating carnival presents mind blowing folk dances performed by artists of NZCC at Rose Garden. The Administrator showed keen interest in the artistic endeavour and band performances and interacted with them. He also went around the festival and flower arrangements, potted plants, aesthetically and beautifully displayed.
Mr. Patil, while interacting with the senior officers, horticulturists and landscaping experts, emphasized the need for a more collective and organized effort for sharing their expertise, experience and knowledge and to work together for strengthening the relationship between man and nature and to convert this vision of garden art as a tribute to the natural landscape. This festival must be made more diversified with educative and meaningful ventures to meet the gardening, artistic and cultural needs of the people of all walks of life.
The Administrator also released the Rose folder on the occasion. The Rose Festival has attracted thousands of visitors, from all walks of life. The three day event will have various competitions, like the Rose Prince and Princess Competition for children, on the spot painting competition, flower arrangements, cut flowers and flowers grown in pots for garden lovers, kite flying, besides joy ride, camel ride, monkey dance, puppet show followed by cultural evenings by renowned singers and film personalities. The highlight of today’s evening was the live stage sufiana performance by Sufi Singer Hans Raj Hans, who mesmerised the audience with the flavour of his sufi singing. The open air stage in the leisure velley was decorated with the sufi theme and the audience could be seen standing to have the glimpse of their favorite singer. The joy rides, food stalls and other fun n frolic amusement events are the main attraction for the children and visitors of all walks of life.
Other Senior officers who were present at the inaugural ceremony included Mr. Pradip Mehra, Adviser to Administrator, Mr. Srivastava, Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ram Niwas, Home Secretary, Mr. V.K. Singh, Finance Secretary, Mr. Brijender Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Mr Ravinder Pal Singh Pali, Mayor, Mr Naunnihal Singh SSP , Dr. Roshan Sankaria, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Mr. D.K. Tiwari, Managing Director, CITCO and Mr. D.S.Saroya, Director, North Zone Cultural Centre.
