As many as 2.01 lakh persons thronged the flower show in Lalbagh on the 80th Independence Day, in Bengaluru on August 15. According to officials of the Horticulture Department, around 1.4 lakh adults, 27,500 children and 34,500 students visited Lalbagh on August 15. A total amount of ₹1.05 crore was collected as entry fee.

M. Jagadeesh, Additional Director, Horticulture Department, Parks and Gardens, said, “Last weekend, we had more than one lakh visitors. We are likely to see big crowds on Sunday August 16 too.”

The 220th flower show at Lalbagh started on August 6 and will end on August 17. According to officials of the Horticulture Department, around 800 men were deployed to work on the models designed for the flower show in just 15 days. It included arranging of flowers, building the Chavundaraya Basadi, a floral replica of Begur’s 1300-year-old Naganatheshwara temple, and carving a 57-foot monolithic Bahubali statue.

Raghavendra, a resident of Rajajinagar, said, “I come with my family to Lalbagh flower show every year. Like every year, the show is arranged well and facilities like washroom, drinking water, eateries are also systematically placed.”

He added, “This time, they have presented the theme of Ganga dynasty, which is informative for students. My children enjoyed it thoroughly.”

Abhishek, a class X student who had come along with his school friends, said, “My friends and I didn’t pay any entry fee as we wore school uniform. It was a great learning for us looking at representations of many kings from the Ganga dynasty.”

The huge crowd caused bumper-to-bumper traffic on Dr. M.H. Marigowda Road, K.H. Road, Jayanagar, South End Circle, and Siddapura. Traffic police personnel, along with volunteers, managed four different entrances at Lalbagh. Autos and cabs were allocated a separate place for passenger pickup and drop. Announcements were made on loudspeakers telling cab and auto drivers to move ahead and not park at the entrance.

Published - August 17, 2026 03:12 pm IST