Chosen theme for flower show is social reformer Basaveshwara

Basavanna played a pivotal role in raising social awareness through his vachanas

Flower show to span 11 days, commences on Jan 18 and concludes on Jan 24

Bengaluru is gearing up for the upcoming Republic Day Flower Show scheduled to take place at the Lalbagh Botanical Gardens. The chosen theme for this year revolves around the renowned social reformer Basaveshwara and his contributions to vachana sahitya.

The decision on the theme was reached during a meeting involving Horticulture Minister SS Mallikarjun, Lalbagh Director DS Ramesh, and other relevant authorities. Widely known as Basavanna, the philosopher played a pivotal role in raising social awareness through his vachanas.

The flower show is set to span 11 days, commencing on January 18 and concluding on January 24. Among the exhibits will be a floral replica of Basaveshwara, alongside statues of other philosophers such as Akka Mahadevi, Madiwala Machaiah, and Gangambike, accompanied by displays of their vachanas.

Additionally, officials plan to create an Anubhava Mantapa, also known as the ‘hall of spiritual experience,’ a public institution introduced by Basavanna that encouraged open discussions on spiritual and worldly matters, welcoming individuals from all socio-economic backgrounds.

A unique feature of the show will be live recitations of vachanas at the Band Stand. Flowering plants, including those sourced from Darjeeling and Ooty, will be showcased. As per tradition, around five lakh cut roses and three lakh cut chrysanthemum flowers will be used to craft the central theme at the Glass House. The horticulture department has prepared over three lakh pots for the event.