Rashtrapati Bhawan – Udyanotsav – 2012

To be open from February 10 to March 15 
This Year’s Attractions–Floral Carpets, Cactus Corner and Bonsai

The Udyanotsav of Rashtrapati Bhawan – 2012, the annual opening of Mughal Gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan including the Musical Garden, the Spiritual Garden, the Herbal Garden, Bonsai garden and the Bio-diversity Park, opens to the general public from February 10th. The Gardens will be open to the general public on all days from February 10 to  March15 from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. Entry into the Gardens will be open only upto 4 P.M.

           However, the Udyanotsav shall remain closed on every Monday, during this period on account of maintenance activities. Further the Udyanotsav shall also remain closed on February 15 on account of a programme at Rashtrapati Bhavan and also on March 8 on account of the Holi Festival.
          
This year the attractions will be floral carpets, the Cactus Corner and Bonsais. A new concept of making of floral carpets on the lawns has been introduced for the first time to garden lovers.  A new Bonsai garden has also been established to enrich the variety of collections and styles, with about 200 Bonsai plants. A cactus corner has also been created.

           The entry and exit into the Gardens will be from Gate No. 35 of the President’s Estate, which is located at the extreme end of the Church Road, about 300 meters West of Cathedral Church.
          
Entry for physically challenged people using wheelchairs will be through the Rashtrapati Bhavan Reception.  Such persons can arrive at Rashtrapati Bhavan through Hukmi Mai Marg or Rajpath.

Visitors are requested not to bring any water bottles, briefcases, handbags/ladies purses, cameras, radios/transistors, cell phones, any writing material, umbrellas, arms/ammunitions and eatables. Such articles, if any, will not be allowed to be carried into the Mughal Gardens and will have to be deposited at the entry point at the owner’s risk.

March 14 will be an exclusive day reserved at the Udyanotsav for differently abled persons from 10 A.M. to 1 P.M. Such persons will be allowed entry through the Reception of Rashtrapati Bhavan, from either Gate Nos. 2 or 37.

Schools wishing to organize a visit for children to the Mughal Gardens during this period may contact Section Officer (Invitation Section), President’s Secretariat, Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi 110 004 on telephone numbers 23012960 & 23015321 Extn.4479 and fax number 23013189, two days in advance so that their entry can be arranged on a priority basis. {PIB} 07-February-2012 16:41 IST ***

Floriculture–a Gainful Livelihood Option

Rai has sold roses worth Rs.1.60 lakh 
Special feature PIC, Khamdong       Success Story          Suman Gazmer*
A progressive farmer from Radang in East Sikkim, Bishnu Kumar Rai has embraced floriculture as a livelihood option since 2008. He cultivates roses in a 650 sq feet land and a green house provided by the State horticulture department.

Rai was  first introduced to floriculture by his wife who attended a  week long  training programme supported by the State horticulture department on General Green House Management at the Horticulture training centre, Talegaon Dabhade in Pune. Later, he acquired further knowledge on floriculture by attending a training programme organized by the department and started reaping the dividends. He has constructed a 80 X 18 feet green house with his own contribution and help from State horticulture department.

So far, this year, Rai has sold roses worth Rs. 1 lakh 60 thousands and is hoping to cross Rs. 1 lakh 70 thousand in sales by the end of this year from the 5000 planted saplings. The selling price of rose per stick is Rs. 3 during off-season and Rs. 5 in peak season. Having taken up floriculture three years ago, this horticulturist has made Rs. 96,000 in the first year and Rs. 1.45 lakhs in the second year through sales. He follows the drip irrigation technology which saves water and fertilizer by allowing water to drip slowly to the roots of the plants, either on the soil surface or directly into the root zone through a network of valves, pipes, tubes and emitters.

After gaining experience in rose cultivation, Rai has branched off to cultivate Jarvera from April 2011 and has already earned more than Rs. 30,000 by selling cut flowers. He is selling 100 sticks every day at the rate of Rs 4 per piece. It is easy to cultivate Jarvera as compared to rose as risk of disease is very less in it and Jarvera blossoms 12 months a year, he said. He is expecting to earn Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 60,000 from 800 plants this year and receives whole hearted support from his wife in this profession.

This energetic farmer has a future plan to develop his area as a floriculture belt and remains committed to cultivate flowers suitable in his 1 acre land. He has not limited himself to flowers but has been cultivating vegetables for almost two decades. He grows cabbages, cauliflower, broccoli, carrot, tomato and other green vegetables.

Rai had won the 2nd prize of Rs. 15,000 along with a certificate during the Horticulture Show 2011 held at Saramsa. He had also bagged a cash 3rd prize of Rs. 5,000 in vegetable (tomato) category during the Kharif Kisan Mela 2008 held at Saramsa. (PIB)  *****


Disclaimer: The writer is a freelance journalist and the views expressed by the author in this feature are entirely his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of PIB.

* Freelance journalist