His Majesty The King graced the opening of the 5th Royal Bhutan Flower Exhibition (RBFE) at the Tendrel Thang in Samdrup Jongkhar this morning. His Majesty The Fourth Druk Gyalpo and Members of the Royal Family also graced the event.
This year’s exhibition is dedicated to 39th birthday of His Majesty The King.
It was organised by the committee of Samdrup Jongkhar Thromde.
Prime minister, government officials and representatives from Samdrup Jongkhar attended the event. Ambassador of India to Bhutan and officials from the neighbouring Indian State of Assam were also invited to attend.
To commemorate His Majesty’s birthday, the organizing groups and the government offered birthday cakes, while members of the community put together a cultural performance to open the exhibition.
The main venue of the flower exhibition this year is at the Tendrel Thang of Samdrup Jongkhar, where gardens have been developed by Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, private nurseries, and the armed forces based in Samdrup Jongkhar.
Besides the gardens, the main venue includes stalls displaying local artisanal works and souvenirs, traditional medicine, tourism information booth, as well as food court run by entrepreneurs from Samdrup Jongkhar and neighbouring areas.
This year’s exhibition extends beyond the main venue to include the entire Thromde area, with the participation of the local community and businesses.
A number of gardens and installations have been developed at various parts of the town.
The people of Samdrup Jongkhar have actively participated in the transformation of the town, by putting up their own floral arrangements around their homes and shops.
“From now on, how do we maintain. The question is about its sustainability. There will be challenges for us but like we have been able to get results until now we will work together, all of us in the government, private and the people, will think as one and maintain as it is now,” Karma Sherab Thobgyal, the SJ Thrompon, said.
Over 3,000 people witnessed the exhibition today. It will be kept open to the public and tourists until February 27.
“Being here and looking at all the beautiful flowers I am feeling dizzy. I don’t know what to do so I am just sitting and relaxing with the happiness of being able to meet Their Majesties for the first time,” Dorji Dema, a resident, said.
“The sights are so pleasing. Our town looks different from what it used to be. It has become beautiful now,” Cheten, another resident, said.
Leki, also a resident said, “the town has become beautiful, the footpaths and everything. Varieties of flowers have been planted. From now onwards, we would be grateful if it can be maintained like this.”
Gardens developed outside of the Tendrel Thang will be permanent features of the town following the conclusion of the exhibition, as one of the overarching objectives of the exhibition is to bring about a lasting transformation of living spaces.
His Majesty granted over 1,700 saplings for the permanent gardens, while they were being developed in January this year.
The RBFE was initiated upon Royal Command in 2015, with the vision of fostering beautiful living spaces and promoting economic activity.
