Vasantotsav to be Held at Lok Bhavan, Dehradun from February 27 to March 1
Dehradun | February 2, 2026: The annual Vasantotsav, organised every year at Lok Bhavan, Dehradun, will be held from February 27 to March 1, 2026. Preparations for the event were reviewed in an important meeting chaired by Governor Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh (Retd.) at Lok Bhavan on Monday.
Governor Emphasises Public Participation and Festive Spirit
During the meeting, the Governor directed officials to organise Vasantotsav with full enthusiasm, energy and festive spirit, ensuring maximum public participation. He stressed the need for wide publicity so that people from across Uttarakhand and other states can connect with the event. Officials were instructed to invite representatives from outside the state to expand the festival’s reach at the national level.
Focus on Millets, Honey and Local Products
The Governor directed that food courts based on traditional millets be set up during the festival with the cooperation of IHM, GMVN and women self-help groups. He also highlighted the importance of promoting honey production, aroma products and millets through Vasantotsav, stating that Uttarakhand has a distinct advantage in these sectors.
Governor’s Special Awards to Be Introduced
From this year, ‘Governor’s Special Awards’ will be introduced and conferred on progressive farmers, women and youth startups on the occasion of Vasantotsav. Individuals and institutions doing exemplary work in the field of floriculture under these three categories will be honoured. The Governor instructed officials to complete all arrangements well in time.
Floriculture and Commercial Linkages
Highlighting the role of Vasantotsav in promoting floriculture in the state, the Governor said that flower exhibitions should be linked with commercial activities. He emphasised that flowers produced in Uttarakhand should be marketed not only within the state but across the country.
Competitions, Cultural Programmes and New Attractions
Officials informed that competitions will be organised in 15 different categories in the flower exhibition, with 165 prizes to be awarded. Band performances by ITBP, IMA, PAC, Pipe Band and Home Guards will be major attractions. District-level cultural programmes will also be organised during cultural evenings.
For the first time, live demonstrations by NIM Uttarkashi, yoga demonstrations by NIVH and Niramaya Yoga Gram, along with judo and martial arts performances, will be organised. A painting competition will be held for school children aged 5 to 18 years, including children from orphanages, children with disabilities and children from ragpicker communities.
Wide Range of Floriculture Exhibitions
Competitions under various categories such as cut flowers, potted plants, loose flower arrangements, hanging pots and on-the-spot photography will be organised. As in previous years, exhibitions and competitions related to lilium, vegetable gardening, bonsai, hydroponic farming, terrarium and honey processing will also be held. Flower exhibitions by commercial and private floriculturists, government gardens and flower-based rangoli competitions will be part of the festival.
Officials Present
The meeting was attended by DG Home Guards Dr. P.V.K. Prasad, Secretary to the Governor Ravinath Raman, Legal Advisor Kaushal Kishore Shukla, Secretary Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare S.N. Pandey, Secretary Finance Dr. V. Shanmugam, Additional Secretary Reena Joshi, Director Horticulture S.L. Semwal, Joint Director Information Dr. Nitin Upadhyay, and officials from Tourism, Horticulture, ITBP, ONGC, IHM, GMVN, India Post, Forest, Police and Culture departments.