2 May, Mongar: Her Majesty the Gyalyum Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck inaugurated the 7th Royal Bhutan Flower Exhibition (RBFE) at Namgyel Chorten (Tendrelthang) in Gyalpozhing. Her Majesty, the Royal Patron for RBFE was accompanied by His Royal Highness Gyaltshab Jigme Dorji Wangchuck and Ashi Yeatso Lhamo.
The exhibition is a tribute to the 93rd Birth Anniversary of the third Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck and is being held at Gyalpozhing and Mongar covering around 18 strategic sites.
Besides the locally produced flowers, the exhibition showcases improved technologies including hydroponics and smart irrigation. Around 20 stalls have been set up displaying various technologies, souvenirs, artworks and biodiversity species among others. As a part of the exhibition, a mini-park and a riverside park have been also developed for visitors to have quality time along with other beautification works.
In the past, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests used to import flowers for the exhibition. However, this year, the Ministry initiated the production of flowers within the country. Jointly with 13 trained Dessups in floriculture and private florists, the Ministry was able to produce more than 200000 nos. flowers and ornamental plants for the exhibition from the nursery established at Lingmethang. The Ministry also tried to reduce the use of plastic pots by introducing locally produced wooden pots.
The exhibition is being organised by the Mongar Dzongkhag Administration with technical assistance from the Ministry. The 7th RBFE will leave a lasting legacy integrating the principles of the RBFE in the town of Mongar and Gyalpozhing to serve as model towns.
Due to the pandemic situation, the Ministry has introduced the exhibition virtually starting 6th RBFE to avoid crowding and enable people to enjoy the exhibition from the comfort of their homes. This year as well, the RBFE will have a choice for people to enjoy the beauty of the exhibition virtually which is being produced by the Ministry’s Information and Communication Technology Division. In addition, Gyalpozhing College of Information Technology is partnering with the Ministry to curate a 360 virtual tour of the event which will be launched on May 21 on the website www.flora.bt.
The 7th RBFE saw around 2384 visitors on May 2 which was open to the public from the afternoon. Around 2453 visitors visited the exhibition on the second day.
One of the visitors, Sonam Lhamo from Thridangbi is happy to witness the RBFE finally happening in her hometown. She shared that the exhibition is a beautiful platform to enjoy the flowers and other locally produced attractions. “I find the display of bamboo water-mill interesting and innovative,” said another visitor, Thupten Wangmo, a class VIII student from the Mongar Middle Secondary School who had attended the 3rd RBFE at Thimphu and had enjoyed it.
The RBFE was initiated upon the Royal Command of His Majesty The King in 2015 to inspire appreciation for beautiful spaces, foster community vitality, and encourage the growth of vibrant entrepreneurship in floriculture. The past six editions of the RBFE have aspired to fulfil the spirit of the Royal Command, transforming the host Dzongkhags into a beautiful green place to live.
For additional glimpses from the exhibition, please click here
-ICTD
