Basantotsav inaugurated at Uttarakhand Raj Bhawan

Much to the delight of city's nature-lovers, the annual spring festival "Basantotsav 2013" marking the advent of the colourful season began at the Raj Bhavan here today.
Governor Aziz Qureshi today inaugurated the two-day festival, besides releasing the first-day cover for the event prepared by India Post featuring the yellow flowers of Kilmora, a medicinal herb grown in the hill state.
The event, whose theme is "Kafal", the delicious berry grown in Uttarakhand hills and linked closely to the day to day life of the hill folk, will be open for public till 6 pm tomorrow.
The state's unique arts and crafts have also been put on display at the two day event which also features different programmes like on-the-spot photography contest, floral rangoli competition, painting competitions for physically and mentally challenged children and street children.

Besides displaying a wide variety of flowers, this year's event also aims at familiarising small farmers with the latest techniques in floriculture and making them aware of the latest market trends, said Ashok, principal secretary to the Governor.
State and Central government departments and organisations have put up their stalls, along with those by industrial units which are displaying products like micro-irrigation systems.