Tulip Festival captivates Hyderabadis

The festival provided a multi-hued razzmatazz of fresh flowers, which is a first designed by Chitra Das in the country Mesmerised and awe-struck; that was the euphoric reaction of all those who made it to the one-of-a-kind Tulip Festival at Park View Enclave in Jubilee Hills on Thursday.

Tulip by itself provides a wholesome feast for the eyes. Imagine seeing an experiential installation of 10,000 tulips in one go. Thanks to the creative spark of Chitra Das Lagadapati and Champs Fleur, the floral boutique that she founded two years back, 'Tulip Festival' provided a multi-hued razzmatazz of fresh flowers, which is a first she has achieved in the country.

For all the natural elegance and breathtaking scenic beauty, it provides, tulips are still European by nativity. "This festival is reminiscent of the lush tulip fields with Champs Fleur's take on tulip fields, made into a picturesque garden, which brings about a wonderful blend of tulips and some locally grown varieties," points out Chitra Das, a Commerce graduate from University of Sydney, whose love for flowers, and horticulture by extension, became ingrained when she assisted her mother in nurturing a multitude of plant varieties in the latter's garden.

The love for gardening and deep-rooted connection with flora was fostered right from her childhood. Today, that passion has given birth to Champs Fleur, the country's first end-to-end preserved floral boutique that specializes in offering flawless long-lasting roses.

To the uninitiated, long lasting flowers are real flowers that last for one year without any maintenance or watering. The flowers are picked when they are at their peak bloom. All the flowers are organic and ethically sourced from around the world. They are bio-degradable and completely natural, she says.

In what comes as music to the ears of all those championing the green cause and organising relentless anti-pollution campaigns, the Champs Fleur initiative will reduce carbon footprint and environmental impact caused by thousands of tons of floral waste, by recycling any floral wastage produced by them. The noble quest of Chitra Das stands out as a role-model in sharing social responsibility.

Socialites of the graceful order of Padma Rajagopal, Padmaja Reddy, Manjula Reddy, Jyotsna, Rama, Swapna, Kamini Saraf, Sona Chatwani,Shilpa Datla, Anam Mirza, Mallika Reddy, actress Niharika Konidela and all those who were fortunate enough to witness the scenic beauty that made for a perfect filmy locale, were bowled over by the attractive spectacle that was on offer.

They felt that the show organised for three hours from 5pm to 8pm would remain itched in their memory for the sheer delight Tulip Festival provided. It was grandiosity and enchantment of the highest order, was the reaction of those who made it to the unique show and were enlightened by the history and beauty of the heritage festival.