Chandigarh, February 24:- The second day of the three-day 52nd Zero Waste Rose Festival at Rose Garden, Sector 16, Chandigarh, was brimming with cultural functions, performances, and competitions. Renowned singer Kanwar Grewal captivated the audience with a mesmerizing and soulful Sufi Night.
The day was packed with a variety of competitions, including the Rose Prince and Rose Princess Competition (Different Stage), Photography Competition, Mr. Rose & Miss Rose Competition, Rose King & Rose Queen (Senior Citizen), and Quiz Competition. The festival also featured captivating attractions such as a Puppet Show performed by artists from Delhi, Rajasthani Dance performance, and Himachali Dance performance.
Numerous cultural programs were organized by artists from various parts of the country, as well as local artists from schools and colleges. The traditional Folk dance of Rajasthan (Ghoomar) and Himachali Dance performances were among the highlights of the day.
In its second consecutive year, the festival has embraced a zero waste initiative, showcasing the civic body’s unwavering commitment to sustainability. Alongside the awe-inspiring display of roses, the festival boasts stalls dedicated to three major categories: Informative, Interactive, and Empowering the community. These stalls, set up by the MC team and the SHGs (Self-Help Groups), aim to raise awareness about waste management, recycling products, composting, and community empowerment.
The informative stalls provide valuable insights into C&D Waste Recycled Products, Horticulture Waste Products, Home Composting, Visar Live Demo, Arpan Live Demo (products from Floral Waste), NAYA SA, Bartan Bhandar, Safai Mitra Equipment Stalls, and Fire Rescue Services.
The interactive stalls engage citizens through games, puzzles, tongue twisters conveying Swachhata messages, and collaborative waste-to-art projects with Kalasagar. Additionally, 21 stalls dedicated to SHGs showcase a diverse range of sustainable products, including floral perfumes, herbal colors, candles, agarbattis, jewelry, cloth bags, kurtis, tops, plazos, handicrafts, and handlooms. The festival, organized by the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, aims to promote sustainability and environmental consciousness.
The 52nd Rose Festival 2024 offers a special attraction called the “Zero Waste” Swachh Game Zone, where sustainability, creativity, innovation, and inclusivity converge. This zone features Indian games and Swachhata-themed activities aimed at engaging citizens of all ages in promoting cleanliness and hygiene. Activities include Stapoo, Skipping, Sack Race, Lemon Run, Tug of War, DIY flower-making using paper, photography skills learning, a magic show, karaoke, musical chairs, and an exciting new game called “Sortify.” In Sortify, participants sort waste into dry, wet, sanitary, and hazardous categories to ensure proper disposal based on the designated color for each category.
To enhance the festival experience for visitors, MC Chandigarh has provided public amenities, including a lost and found counter, a medical counter, water facilities, and clean and hygienic public conveniences.
As part of its commitment to sustainability, the MCC has organized the eco-friendly ‘Zero Waste Rasoi’ food court, offering reasonably priced food items within the festival grounds. The use of plastic items is strictly prohibited, and the promotion of biodegradable and recyclable products is encouraged.
