Chandigarh, February 26: The three-day 52nd Zero Waste Rose Festival held at Rose Garden, Sector 16, Chandigarh, concluded with great success, featuring cultural functions, performances, competitions, and a prize distribution ceremony. The event was highlighted by a mesmerizing musical recital by renowned singer Abhilipsa Panda on the third day evening.

The festival showcased numerous cultural programs presented by artists from different parts of the country, as well as local artists from schools and colleges. On the concluding day, the prizes were distributed by the chief Guest Adviser to Administrator Sh. Rajeev Verma, IAS, in the presence of City Mayor Sh. Kuldeep Kumar, Finance Secretary Sh. Vijay Namdeo Rao Jade, IAS, Ms. Anindita Mitra, IAS, Commissioner, councillors of MCC, senior officers of the civic body, and prominent residents of the city.

City Mayor Sh. Kuldeep Kumar appreciated the efforts of the MC Chanidgarh in making the three-day show a zero waste event. He commended the commitment to sustainability demonstrated by the festival.

Ms. Anindita Mitra expressed her happiness on the successful completion of the three-day Zero Waste 52nd Rose Festival. She acknowledged the tireless efforts of the entire team in making this year's festival memorable while also maintaining cleanliness and hygiene.

For the second consecutive year, the festival embraced a zero waste initiative, showcasing the civic body's unwavering commitment to sustainability. In addition to the breathtaking display of roses, the festival featured stalls dedicated to three major categories: Informative, Interactive, and Empowering the community. These stalls, set up by the MC team and the SHGs (Self-Help Groups), aimed to raise awareness about waste management, recycling products, composting, and community empowerment.

The informative stalls provided valuable insights into various aspects of waste management, including C&D Waste Recycled Products, Horticulture Waste Products, Home Composting, Visar Live Demo, Arpan Live Demo (products from Floral Waste), NAYA SA, Bartan Bhandar, Safai Mitra Equipment Stalls, and Fire Rescue Services.

The interactive stalls engaged citizens through games, puzzles, tongue twisters conveying Swachhata messages, and collaborative waste-to-art projects with Kalasagar. Additionally, 21 stalls dedicated to SHGs showcased a diverse range of sustainable products, including floral perfumes, herbal colors, candles, agarbattis, jewelry, cloth bags, kurtis, tops, plazos, handicrafts, and handlooms. The festival, organized by the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, aimed to promote sustainability and environmental consciousness.

A special attraction of the 52nd Rose Festival 2024 was the "Zero Waste" Swachh Game Zone, where sustainability, creativity, innovation, and inclusivity converged. This zone featured Indian games and Swachhata-themed activities aimed at engaging citizens of all ages in promoting cleanliness and hygiene. Activities included Stapoo, Skipping, Sack Race, Lemon Run, Tug of War, DIY flower-making using paper, photography skills learning, a magic show, karaoke, musical chairs, and an exciting new game called "Sortify." In Sortify, participants sorted waste into dry, wet, sanitary, and hazardous categories to ensure proper disposal based on the designated color for each category.

To enhance the festival experience for visitors, MC Chandigarh provided public amenities, including a lost and found counter, a medical counter, water facilities, and clean and hygienic public conveniences.

As part of its commitment to sustainability, the MCC organized the eco-friendly 'Zero Waste Rasoi' food court, offering reasonably priced food items within the festival grounds. The use of plastic items was strictly prohibited, and the promotion of biodegradable and recyclable products was encouraged.

A significant step forward towards a greener future, MC Chandigarh led the way with on-site composting at the Zero Waste 52nd Rose Festival 2024. By turning the dry waste collected from the festival into nutrient-rich soil, MCC not only reduced landfill waste but also promoted a healthier environment.