Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha occupies an important place in the tourism map of the country as well as the globe. Bhubaneswar is known as ‘city of temple’ after the name of Tribhubaneswar, ‘Lord of Three Worlds’, still preserves over 500 of India’s finest temples, around which the religious life of the city revolves. It’s major tourist destinations include Udaygiri and Khandagiri Caves, Lingaraj Temple, Nandankanan Zoological Park, Dhauli, Rajarani Temple, Laxminarayan Temple, Kedargouri Temple, Kapileswar Temple and many more. Mythological references and the epigraphic sources describe the area as Ekamra Kshetra and Shaiva Pitha in 1936. The Odisha became a separate province with cuttack as its capital, which was eventually changed to Bhubaneswar in 1956. Together with Puri and Konark, Bhubaneswar forms the ‘golden triangle’ one of the most visited destinations in East India, for its proud possession of magnificent sculpture and majestic architectural heritage.
Flower plays an important role during puja in Hindu religion. Flowers are favorite of Gods and Goddesses. Offering flower to Them can bring one fortune and change his/her destiny.
Flowers are high value commodities used in various ways in domestic social activities and in industries such as essential oils, dry flowers, medicinal use, natural dye extraction, beautification etc. Cultivation of flowers provides opportunity to farmers to earn a better livelihood and harvest more profit per unit area. Floriculture has received considerable interest in our country. India is second largest flower producer after China. Hence the need of making Bhubaneswar a flower city is highly felt all the time.
For urban beautification trees plantation along streets and highways should be patronized. Students should be encouraged to beautify school grounds. Trees and flower plantation should be made in the city and parks. Funds should be provided to citizens who wish to plant or mulch a public area. Fruits and flower orchards should be established. Beekeeping (apiculture) could be managed for farming and generating revenue to meet the expenses of maintenance of such orchards.
Flower health Benefits & Research : Florist have always known that flowers make people happy. My own year-long experiences and research reveals the emotional and behavioral benefits of flower and plants. Flower plantation in the city would be immensely helpful for the psychological and spiritual development of the people. With this innovative plan Bhubaneswar would be made more decorative and attractive for the tourists coming across the globe. Flower plantation in a city has much more possibility for rain and reduces temperature the entire region. An inspirational environment could be developed in spiritual institutions like temples, churches, mosques, recreational places like amusement park, fly-over, governmental offices like Assembly, Secretariat and other Boards & Corporate sectors as well as educational institutions like schools, colleges, universities etc. It would keep the environment neat n clean by developing huge greenery in and around the city. Regular plantation, conservation and maintenance of such orchards must be done in a regular basis in public-private-partnership (PPP) mode. Also the concerned authorities of the area, some nearby Self Help Groups (SHGs), other charitable institutions and communities/ civil groups should be involved for materializing the dream of this heavenly project.
Another major step to be taken in this regard is construction of adobe for the domestic pets like cows, sheep, goat, dogs as well as birds. They should be provided with sufficient food grains and drinking water through tanks specially constructed for this purpose in different suitable places. People from all walks of life across all age groups would be happy in rendering service to the birds and animals. In the dwelling adobe, the flock should be provided with hygienic treatment throughout all seasons by the veterinary experts.
Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) can appeal the general public of the city for implementation and development of this plan by planting several flower trees in their big apartments and other residential houses. Co-ordination with different Departments and corporate houses as well as media is highly required to achieve this goal.
Hence, the above-mentioned draft may kindly be considered sensitively and implemented to make my effort fruitful for which I shall be thankful to you.
Yours Faithful Indian,
Shri Keshab Swain
JAI HIND