60,000 roses used to make 'Ambari Elephant'

Mysore, Oct 1: 'Ambari Elephant' made from 60,000 roses along with a wide variety of other flowers in more than 35,000 pots is on display at the flower show organised as part of the 10-day famous Dasara festivities which began on Wednesday, Oct 1.

Tourists and visitors, who are eager to see the caparisoned elephant 'Balarama' carrying the ''Golden howdah'', need not wait as they could walk into the Curzon Park near the northern gate of the Mysore palace every day to watch it. Artist Kalidas, who created several models at Cubbon Park in Bangalore, using flowers had made the Ambari Elephant. He created 'Nandi' model in last year's flower show, Deputy Commissioner P Manivannan told sources. ''Ambari Elephant, the symbol of Mysore Dasara festivities, was made to offer something special to the tourists and visitors at the flower show, jointly organised by the Department of Horticulture and Mysore District Horticulture Society,'' he said.

The elephant made out of colourful roses would be on display during the 10-day Dasara festival. Visitors could also view Goddess Chamundeswari made out of flowers, placed atop the Ambari elephant, Mr Manivannan said.

Several individuals, educational institutions, government departments, industrial establishments and hotels are also displaying flowers developed at their premises at the show. For the first time, best varieties of horticultural plants would be on display to create awareness on the importance of growing plants.

An array of ornamental plants and Ikebana (the art of Japanese flower arrangment) besides flowers brought from Udhagamandalam and Brindavan Gardens at Krishnarajara Sagar Dam near here would be on display at the Glass House.

Flower rangoli and vegetable carving are some of the other attractions at the flower show, Mr Mannivannan said.

Since the dasara flower show was fast emerging as a popular event and drawing visitors, the organisers of the event were making every efforts to make it attractive and unique this year.

Horticulture department sources told UNI that a competition has been organised for the general public and organisations in which best oranmental plants and flower exhibit would be given a prize.

UNI