Taking inspiration from Japan’s famous Cherry Blossom festival, the Uttarakhand Forest Department has announced plans to celebrate Buransh and Padam flowering festivals, a press release said.
The proposal was cleared in the meeting of the Research Advisory Committee (RAC) held last month. As per the plan, the Buransh festival will be organised in the second week of March, while the Padam (Himalayan Cherry) festival will be held in the second week of October, which are the peak blooming seasons for these flowers in the state.
Buransh, scientifically called Rhododendron arboretum, is also the state flower of Uttarakhand. During March and April, the hills of the state turn red with its blossoms. Padam or Himalayan Cherry, scientifically known as Prunus cerasoides, flowers twice a year—in March-April and again in October—covering the trees with soft pink blossoms.
Both flowers are culturally and ecologically important in Uttarakhand and attract a wide variety of birds, honey bees, and pollinators. Buransh is also valued for its medicinal properties, and its juice is known to help with gastrointestinal problems.
Chief Conservator of Forests, Sanjiv Chaturvedi, said “During the week fixed for celebration of these flowers festivals, a number of activities have been planned, which include trek to flowering areas and trails, cultural programs with participation of local community, exhibition of products based on these flowers, spotting of birds/pollinators dependent on these flowers, storytelling sessions, pollinators survey and painting competitions."
The release added that “The main objective is to celebrate the seasonal blooming of these flowers as symbols of the rich floral heritage of Uttarakhand and to raise awareness among local communities, tourists, and stakeholders about the ecological and cultural importance of these species in the Himalayan ecosystem. Uttarakhand Forest Department also hopes to promote conservation efforts and sustainable use through community and school engagement, and to document local traditions, folklore, and uses associated with these species."
The release compared the initiative to Japan’s centuries-old Hanami tradition, or "flower viewing," where people gather under cherry blossoms (Prunus serrulata) between March and May. South Korea’s Jinhae Gunhangje Festival was also cited, where millions visit the city of Jinhae every April to enjoy blooming Yoshino cherry trees (Prunus yedoensis) with cultural events and parades.
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