CHANDIGARH ROSE FESTIVAL

Finally we did make it to the Rose Garden Chandigarh, on Sunday, the last day of the three day annual Rose Festival.Thanks to dear hubby who drives me wherever and whenever I request him to oblige. From the crowds on the adjacent roads, it looked as if all roads led to only one destination i.e. Rose Garden. It was a gala affair for the residents of Chandigarh, my city of yester years. To reach the entrance after wading your way through the milling crowds spoke volumes about the popularity of the festival. The entrance was embellished with taste and elegance and there was a display of photographs of major varieties of roses in a covered area which was also done
very beautifully. Once in,  there were two ubiquitous sights - roses and roses all the way  and crowds and crowds all the way.There are hundreds of varieties of roses in eye catching hues of red,white, yellow and pink growing in beds of all shapes and sizes and inviting one and all to have a visual feast of their bountiful beauty and soak in their sweet fragrance.
Men, women, young boys and girls, children and couples like us who believe that life start at sixty, all were there in their fashionable best and enjoying the  captivating beauty of the thorny bushes adorned with magnificent blossoms. There was



clicking of photographs contageously, posing in front of rose beds and some figurines - a butterfly, a camel, a woman carrying a pitcher on her head- prepared with petals which were hot favourites for pretty damsels and excited children.What was most observable was the nonchalance and gay abandon flowing in the the body  language of those present in that isolated world of immense splendour. Such are the moments which one longs for in the stressful world of today. Forgetting all their worries and despairs everybody was feeling blessed, at least that was the overall impression which was manifest on their faces. People were also showing keen interest in watching singing and dancing performances presented by troupes from various states and students from local colleges.
Actually it was the childern who were making the most of this festival. Across the road there were exciting joyrides and swings and so many other entertainment mediums. There were plethora of rubber toys sold by urchins who had come from other states to sell their wares. Outside there were stalls selling fruit chat and fast food items.
Chandigarh aministration did  a wonderful job of arranging an event of such magnitude so successfully. Three cheers for the members of the team who were at the helm of affairs.