Rains in the Nilgiris contributed to a subdued inauguration of the 128^th annual flower show at the Government Botanical Garden in Udhagamandalam on Monday (May 18, 2026).

The theme for this year’s exhibits centred around the protection and preservation of Tamil heritage and culture. To commemorate this, the main attraction was an exhibit of the British-built Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station, which was decorated with over 1.14 lakh carnation flowers. Other exhibits, including flower galleries, were: flower arrangements of an outline of the State’s borders, a Thiruvalluvar statue, a Bharathanatyam dancer, the Thanjavur bobble-head dolls, the Thiruvarur temple chariot, the Mahabalipuram temple, the five traditional ecological landscapes described in Sangam-era literature, and various traditional Tamil dances, among others.

The Horticulture department said that a total of 7 lakh flowers were used to create the exhibits. Despite the rains, large crowds thronged the botanical garden from early Monday morning.

The flower show is to be held till May 28. Many of the visitors were from the neighbouring States of Kerala and Karnataka, officials from the Horticulture department said.

The event was inaugurated by newly elected Ooty MLA, M. Bhojarajan, of the BJP.

Lack of preparedness

Despite the crowds, visitor numbers on the first day of the flower show were expected to be lower than those during the previous years owing to a reported lack of preparedness due to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections. “In the previous years, the event would be announced well in advance and tourists would plan their trips around the flower show. However, this year, the day of the inauguration itself was only announced two days prior to its commencement. So, many people are unaware that the flower show has started,” said an official from the Horticulture department.

This year, the elections have led to a truncated summer festival season, with only the rose show, flower show, and fruit show being held. The district administration and Horticulture department appealed to residents and tourists to visit the flower show.