Orchid Show begins with display of 500 varieties of hybrids

GANGTOK, 17 Mar: The Sikkim Flower Festival 2011 [“The Orchid Show”], organised by the Sikkim Flower Festival Committee [SFFC], was opened to the public today. The Orchid Show is being held at the Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal Memorial Park near the White Hall complex here at the Ridge.
Speaking to the media, Forest Secretary ST Lachungpa, who is also the Chairman, SFFC informed that this year there are more than 500 varieties of Cymbidium hybrid Orchids [compared to 20-30 varieties a few years back] in over 2000 pots on display. There are around 50 participants consisting of floriculturists and growers from Sikkim and some from Darjeeling with participation of more locals this year, he added. This year the judging was done on artistic arrangement, health of the plant, maximum number of varieties and number of new introductions, he further added.

“The flower festival will continue for a year, while these orchids will be on display till the first week of May and after that we will be putting up displays of different seasonal flowers according to the season,” he informed.
Till last year the Nayuma family [under the name of Bishnu Maya Rai] was sponsoring the awards, but from this year as the SFFC will be giving away the awards on its own as they are now able to sustain the kitty through sale of tickets and flowers from the show.
This year, there were two types of categories of awards, while the main category [Division A with display of 70 pots] was for the floriculturists and growers, the other category [Division B with three pots] was kept so that there could be public participation as many people grow or keep orchids in their homes for either decoration or for show.
In Division A, the first prize of Rs. 1 Lakh, Rs. 50,000/- and Rs. 25,000/- as second and third prizes, respectively, while in Division B, Rs. 2,500/-, Rs. 2,000/- and Rs. 1,500/- was the prize money to be won.
The first prize in Division A was won by Milan Rai of Mirik, the second prize by Development Women’s Co-operative Society of Gangtok and the third was taken by Laxmi Prasad Rai of Assam Lingzey.
In Division B, the first prize was won by Bijay Chettri of Samdur, Tadong and the second prize was taken by Development Women’s Co-operative Society of Gangtok.
The opening ceremony was attended by Bhim Dhungel [Minister for Forest, Environment and Wildlife Department], Neeru Sewa [Minister for Industries & Commerce Department], Dorjee Namgyal [MLA, Gangtok], officials of Forest, Environment and Wildlife Department and school children.
Milan Rai from Mirik [the first prize winner], while speaking to the media informed that this was his 6th consecutive first prize at the flower show.
“When I come to take part in the flower festival, I just think of coming in first and moreover, I make sure to follow the rules, so my arrangement, formation and bloom of orchids are always right to win me the first prize,” he stated. “I run a nursery [Milan Nursery] in Mirik, where I have more than 100 varieties of orchids, which I sell to locals as well as customers and supply to people in Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai,” he added.