Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada District Horticulture Department, District Administration, Zilla Panchayat, and Kadri Park Development Committee are jointly organizing a fruit and flower exhibition from January 23 to 26 at Kadri Park, Mangaluru. The event is supported by Siri Horticulture Association, Mangaluru, and other developmental departments as part of the Republic Day celebrations.
Speaking at a press conference, Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat CEO Dr. Anand K. announced that the exhibition will be inaugurated on January 23 at 11 AM by Speaker U.T. Khader, with District-in-Charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao presiding. MLA Vedavyas Kamath will chair the event, with several dignitaries and representatives in attendance.
This year, the key attraction is a 22-foot-tall Eiffel Tower replica, adorned with around 2 lakh flowers of various varieties. Other highlights include a flower-decorated photo frame, selfie zones, and artistic models like mushrooms, honey bees, and Mickey Mouse made of flowers, standing 4 to 6 feet tall.
Additionally, Kambala buffalo models crafted with decorative leaves and millets, as well as Yakshagana-inspired artwork and figures representing fishermen and Kambala racers, will be showcased.
Deputy Director of Horticulture Manjunath D., Senior Assistant Director Pramod C.M., and members of the Kadri Park Development Committee, including B. Jagannath Gambheer, Rama Mugrodi, and G.K. Bhat, were also present at the press conference.
Approximately 20,000 flowers grown in pots at Kadri Park will be on display. Pilikula Biological Park will present information on Western Ghats flora and medicinal plants. There will also be stalls for organic products, exhibits of fruits, vegetables, tubers, and traditional seeds, as well as sales of self-help group products.
The Horticulture Department has grown 1.5 lakh saplings of various types, which will be sold at Re. 1 per plant. Tomato, brinjal, okra, and cowpea saplings will be available. The exhibition will be open from 9 AM to 9 PM daily.