‘Vasantholsavam’ to Turn City Colourful and Twinkling from Dec 23 to Jan 2

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Kerala’s eagerly-awaited festival of flowers and lights ‘Vasantholsavam,’ organized by the Department of Tourism and District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC), will turn the capital city colourful and luminous during the Christmas and New Year season, from December 23 to January 2.

This edition of the festival of flowers at Kanakakkunnu Grounds in the city is curated by Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute, Palode.

The visually fascinating event will be a double delight for visitors with the Light Festival illuminating the city’s streets and heritage structures during this period. The illumination activities of the Tourism Department are set up at a cost of Rs 1.18 crore.

The flower festival will have competitions in around 70 categories including those relating to exhibition of flower plants, ornamental plants, orchids, anthurium, cactus and adenium. Government and private institutions, individuals and nurseries can take part in the competitions, where there will be separate first, second and third prize winners, besides overall champions in each category.

Interested parties can submit applications to the DTPC office at Vellayambalam in the city before 5 pm on December 12.

More than 25,000 plants will be on display at ‘Vasantholsavam,’ apart from around 15,000 plants in the competitions category.

An expo of flower decoration as well as its competition will be held for adults and students. Visitors can also buy flowers and plants from the stalls put up by nurseries.