City centre Lal Chowk and its historic landmark, Ghanta Ghar (Clock Tower), witnessed a stunning transformation on Saturday, marking a unique first for the city: a spectacular large-scale Chrysanthemum bloom show in the heart of autumn. This initiative is a move to beautify the city during the quieter fall season and 'fill the gap' for tourism between the summer rush and the winter snow.
The spectacle was created by the PG and PhD students of SKUAST-K's Division of Floriculture, guided by Head of Division Prof Imtiyaz Tahir Nazki and faculty members, who worked overnight to install approximately 3,000 pots of vibrant Chrysanthemums (Gul-e-Dawood). The display featured more than 15 indigenous varieties and 80 colours of the flower, transforming the area around the iconic Ghanta Ghar into a riot of colour.
This floral curtain-raiser, the third edition of the Gul-e-Dawood show but the first to be brought to the city centre, aims to mirror the success of the early spring Tulip bloom, which has become a hallmark of Kashmir tourism.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg, who was the Chief Guest at the inaugural event, congratulated the organising team—led by VC SKUAST and SMC Commissioner and CEO Smart City Faz Lul Haseeb—for the spectacular show. He highlighted the extensive preparation over the last three years to bring the event from the SKUAST-K campus to Lal Chowk.
"The riot of colours in Lal Chowk is our invitation to the tourists," Garg stated. "We hope and plan that just like the tulips attract tourists in early spring, the Chrysanthemum show will bring visitors from across the country and abroad in the autumn, which is otherwise considered an off-season."
Div Com added that the flowers would "add more charm to the vibrant spots of the city developed under the Smart City initiative," and appealed to both locals and tourists to visit the spot as well as the upcoming grand show at the SKUAST-K Shalimar campus.
Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-K, Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai, explained the decision to choose the location. "Lal Chowk is not only the business hub but the heart of the city," he said. "That is why, under SKUAST-K’s outreach initiative, we found it appropriate to transform it into a Gulistan (flower garden) in autumn."
Prof Ganai noted that the event serves as a prelude to the grand Gul-e-Dawood Show, which will begin on Monday at the SKUAST-K Shalimar campus and run for a month. He confirmed that the multi-year effort to plan the Chrysanthemum show was a direct response to making October and November a major tourist attraction, just like the spring Tulip season, by showcasing 80 colours and multiple varieties of the resilient autumn bloom.
SMC Commissioner Faz Lul Haseeb praised the idea, recalling his immediate collaboration with SKUAST-K upon hearing the proposal. He said this was executed with support from the SMC, which has given Lal Chowk a distinctly 'festive look.'
The event also witnessed a cultural show by the SKUAST-K students which lasted half a day. A large number of the public visited La Chowk to witness the show. Civil society and traders appreciated the organisers and hoped that the initiative will make Srinagar a year-round floral destination, moving 'From Gul-e-Lala to Gul-e-Dawood' (from Tulip to Chrysanthemum), will be a fixture in future municipal beautification and tourism promotion plans.
Joint Commissioner SMC, Director Research, SKUAST-K, Prof Haroon R Naik, Director, Extension Prof Raihana Habib Kanth and Dean Faculty of Horticulture, Prof Nelofar Banday were also present at the occasion.
Prof Nazki thanked all participants and stakeholders for making the inaugural autumn bloom show a resounding success.
