Vasantotsav 2026 concludes in Dehradun; IIT Roorkee bags top honours

Dehradun, March 1, 2026 – The three-day Vasantotsav festival concluded on Sunday at Lok Bhawan in Dehradun, celebrating the beauty of flowers and the rich cultural heritage of Uttarakhand. This year, the prestigious event saw IIT Roorkee emerge as the standout participant, securing first place with an impressive 13 awards across various categories. ONGC followed closely in second place with awards in four categories.

Overview of Vasantotsav 2026

Vasantotsav is an annual festival that showcases the natural beauty of flowers, alongside a variety of cultural and competitive events. The festival attracted a large number of visitors, who enjoyed the vibrant displays and engaging activities. A total of 161 prizes were awarded across 54 sub-categories under 15 main categories during this year’s event.

Awards and Recognitions

The awards ceremony was presided over by the Governor of Uttarakhand, Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh (Retd.), and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. They presented awards to winners of various competitions, including:

• Flower exhibition competitions
• Rangoli contests
• Children’s painting competitions
• Photography competitions

Inaugural Governor’s Award for Farmers

This year marked the introduction of the Governor’s Award, aimed at recognizing outstanding farmers, including women and young innovators in agriculture. The awards were distributed in several categories:

Outstanding Farmers

• 1st Place: Deepak Gadiya (Bageshwar district)
• 2nd Place: Kapil Sharma (Rudraprayag district)
• 3rd Place: Shubham Singh (Pithoragarh district)

Women Farmers

• 1st Place: Radha Rana (Champawat district)
• 2nd Place: Kavita Mehra (Almora district)
• 3rd Place: Shanti Juyal (Pauri Garhwal district)

Leading Young Farmers Innovating Through Startups

• 1st Place: Devendra Singh Chauhan (Tehri district)
• 2nd Place: Pankaj Mehta (Nainital district)
• 3rd Place: Ujjwal Saini (Haridwar district)

Governor’s Remarks on the Festival’s Success

During the closing ceremony, the Governor expressed his delight at the festival’s success, noting the happiness and satisfaction visible on the faces of nearly 350,000 visitors. He emphasized that the core spirit of Vasantotsav 2026 was to promote positivity, balance, and creativity through the celebration of flowers. The Governor highlighted the importance of research-based stalls set up by the Horticulture Department, which demonstrated how flowers can enhance health and overall well-being.

Emphasis on Innovation

The Governor also underscored the significance of innovation in achieving the vision of “Developed India 2047.” He noted that each stall and presentation during the festival reflected new thinking and creativity. The audience appreciated various performances, including rhythmic yoga sessions, yoga presentations by specially-abled children, and Wushu demonstrations. The stalls set up by women self-help groups were particularly praised for their role in promoting self-reliance among the women of Uttarakhand.

Chief Minister Dhami Highlights the State’s Green Economy

In his address, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami described Vasantotsav as more than just a cultural event; it is a celebration of Uttarakhand’s natural wealth, agricultural strength, and emerging green economy. He remarked that the spring season conveys a message of positive energy and spiritual joy, reflected in the vibrant colors and fragrances of the flowers displayed at Lok Bhawan.

Support for Farmers and Horticulture

CM Dhami acknowledged the Governor’s discipline, patriotism, and visionary leadership, stating that under his guidance, the state is making steady progress. He emphasized the importance of blending traditional knowledge with modern innovation to help local products gain recognition in national and international markets. The Chief Minister also highlighted the efforts of self-help groups, women, and youth as vital steps toward building a self-reliant Uttarakhand.

Promoting Commercial Floriculture

Commercial floriculture is currently being cultivated across approximately 656 hectares in Uttarakhand, presenting a low-cost, high-income opportunity for farmers. The state government is actively encouraging farmers through various initiatives, including:

• A comprehensive flower policy
• Exemption from mandi fees
• Marketing support
• Beekeeping subsidies

New Policies to Boost Horticulture

To enhance farmers’ income, new policies worth approximately Rs 1,200 crore have been implemented. These include:

• Apple Policy
• Kiwi Policy
• State Millet Mission
• Dragon Fruit Policy

Under these schemes, farmers can receive up to 80 percent subsidy to promote horticulture development.

Note: This article is based on information published by Asianet News Central and has not been edited by the staff of Asianet Newsable English.