Neelakurinji Festival logo releasedSpeaking on the occasion, the Minister said that this was the first time ever that a festival was being organised to celebrate the blooming of the kurinji flowers that happens only once in 12 years. Thousands flocked to Munnar to see the blooms. But owing to unscientific approaches, the area covered by kurinji had decreased year after year.
The festival, he said, is aimed at the protection of this flower from the threats facing it.Various Government Departments, District, Block, Village Panchayats and the High Range Wildlife Association have come out in support of the festival.
The Minister also told the gathering that the proposal for the
formation of a Kurinji Sanctuary with the addition of more
revenue land as forests was under consideration of the Government.The festival is being organised jointly by the Forest Department and the Tourism Department. It will open on October 7 with a function and public rally to the accompaniment of school banks and local traditional arts display. A public meeting and release of various products of the Forest Development Agency, inauguration of photo exhibition, food stalls and traditional trade fair and cultural programmes are scheduled for the evening (4.30 pm).
The second day's programmes will include a seminar on Conservation strategies of Neelakkurinji with Tourism as local point in the morning (10 am) and cultural programmes in the evening. (6 pm).
The third day of the festival will start with a poetic exposition of Neelakkurinji at 10 am and Neelakkurinji poster competition at 2 pm. followed by cultural programmes in the evening.
Deepak M. Roy