A floral and horticultural festival kicked off today with thousands of visitors, mostly young couples, thronging the Garden of Five Senses here braving rains and chill.
Over 5000 varieties of plants including rose, dahlia, lily, chrysanthemum and exotic flowers and cacti, among others welcomed people at the 27th Garden Tourism Festival held jointly by the Delhi Tourism and the government of Delhi.
A highlight at the festival is a Rudraskh plant, the sapling of which was brought from Nepal.
"On the first day, there was a footfall of over 5,000. In these three days over the weekend, starting today, we are looking at a total footfall of about 50,000," a Delhi Tourism official said.
Today being Valentine's Day, scores of couples were seen at the venue, despite rainy and inclement weather.
This year's theme for the three-day floral extravaganza is 'Vertical Gardens' with an objective to encourage vertical spaces for indoor and outdoor gardening.
Apart from display of exquisite plants, separate section for nursery stalls have also been kept to sell plants, horticultural equipment, pesticides, fertilisers and other garden accessories, a statement from Delhi Tourism said.
Cultural programmes, magic shows and on-the-spot events also await visitors at the festival.
The major participants this year include horticulture departments of CPWD (Central Public Works Department), NDMC (New Delhi Municipal Council), DDA (Delhi Development Authority), DJB (Delhi Jal Board), MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) and Indian Railways, the statement said.
Spread over 20 acres, the Garden of Five Senses designed to stimulate all the senses has been the host of the feast since the park's inception in 2003.
The first Garden Tourism Festival was held in 1988 at a DDA park in Greater Kailash area, subsequently travelling to India Gate and Talkatora Gardens in the past.
Tourism Minister Somnath Bharti was scheduled to inaugurate the festival in the morning but could not attend because of Delhi Assembly proceedings, another tourism department official said.
