The show was inaugurated by Vice-Chancellor Dr Manjit Singh Kang. Dr Kang and other dignitaries paid tributes to Dr Randhawa.

The books authored by Dr Randhawa were also displayed on the occasion. These included Roop Lekha, Flowering Trees in India, Flowering Trees, Beautiful Gardens, Chandigarh, Beautifying Cities of India, Landscaping Chandigarh, Beautifying India, Van Mahotsav (Hindi), Ghar Di Bagichi Te Shingar Bute (Punjabi) etc.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Kang said that although floriculture has been adopted by some farmers for commerce, yet the reflection of nature through flowers cannot be ignored. He added that Dr Randhawa had special fondness for roses and marigolds.

Dr Kang added that besides enhancing farm profitability, floriculture helps to improve the environment, and creating a beautiful ambience. He mentioned that some national agencies like Punjab Agro Industry Corporation and APEDA are also engaged in promotion of floriculture in the country. With the technology developed by PAU, some farmers are growing flowers under contract farming, and exporting them to countries like USA, Netherlands, Germany and United Kingdom. Dr Kang highlighted that flower seed production is undertaken in Punjab over about 700 acres, earning foreign exchange of over six crores of rupees.

Dr Ramesh Kumar Sadavarti, Head, Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, said that the show will remain open on February 28, in the examination hall of College of Agriculture. He added that this year, there is enhanced enthusiasm among the public, as more than 1,200 entries for the competition have been received under three main categories. These are cut flowers, fresh and dry arrangement of flowers, and foliage, pot plants, cacti, succulents, bonsai, etc. He added that competition for pot-plants of various types was also held on the occasion.

Dr Sadavarti pointed out that the PAU flower show is becoming popular among the students, faculty and staff not only of constituent colleges of PAU, but also of the city schools and colleges. He added that entries for the flower competition have also been received from State Departments of Horticulture, district headquarters etc.

A large number of students from city colleges and schools were keen to have a word with Dr Kang. Flower arrangements on diverse topics like national integration, ecstasy, pride and passion, world peace, global warming, love and romance etc. were displayed by the participants.

Amandeep, a student of Class VI of Guru Nanak Public School was keen to show her creation entitled ‘Preserve Nature on Earth’. Aafrin, Class IX student from the same school, displayed a tastefully arranged floral set with the title, ‘Good Personality is Always Surrounded by Heaven’. ‘Beauty and beast’ were depicted through scarlet carnations and white petals by Arshpreet Kaur of Class VI in a local school.

Dr Kang appreciated the feelings of the children, and urged them to study nature in their free time. A participant conveyed his message through flowers with a title, ‘Save the Girl Child’.

Another special feature of today’s show was ‘Gift a Pot’ plants, that attracted people from all walks of life. This is a new urban culture, in which people greet their relatives and friends on auspicious days by presenting lively potted plants, said Suneha, a city resident. The show had competitions in the category of button-hole flowers, garland-making, neckless and ear-ring making. There was some entries of ‘sehra (veil)’ made of of fragrant white tube rose florets.

Dr Milkha Singh Aulakh, Dean, College of Agriculture, also appreciated the entries of the various participants.

According to Dr Sadavarti, more than 1,200 entries were evaluated by a team of judges including an eminent landscapist Surinder Pal Singh Dosanjh, Dr RL Mishra, Project Coordinator ICAR, Dr JS Arora, Dr Brij Mohan Bhardwaj, SDO (PWD), Hari Singh Sandhu, Dr Satish Narula, Dr Gursharan Dhillon and Shivani.