The Chandigarh Rose Festival, the pride of the city’s cultural and horticultural calendar, is going to be celebrated for its 53rd edition on February 21 to 23, 2025. The Department of Tourism, Chandigarh Administration, brings this yearly spectacle to life, turning the city into a kaleidoscope of colors, aromas, and cultural festivities that attract visitors from all over the country and even the world.
A Blossoming Legacy
Initiated in 1967 under the visionary leadership of Mohinder Singh Randhawa, Chandigarh’s initial chief commissioner, the Zakir Hussain Rose Garden is the focal point of the festival. Spread over 30 acres of Sector 16, this floral paradise is home to a massive array of 50,000 rose bushes containing 1,600 different species, qualifying it as Asia’s largest rose garden. Apart from its floral beauty, the garden is also a haven for medicinal plants, such as bel, bahera, harar, camphor, and yellow gulmohar, showcasing a harmonious balance of beauty and utility. Festival Highlights
The 2025 Rose Festival is set to offer a rich variety of activities meant to captivate people of all ages:
Floral Displays: The visitors can be immersed in carefully selected displays containing roses in an array of hues ranging from traditional red to unusual and exotic. These displays not only display the beauty of roses but also inform the visitors about their cultivation and importance.
Cultural Performances: The festival will be a platform for national and local artists to showcase traditional and contemporary performances. Daytime cultural events will include folk dances, musical performances, and theatrical performances, which will delightfully portray the region’s rich cultural heritage.
Competitions and Workshops: Enthusiasts of gardening and aspiring horticulturists can indulge in a host of competitions like flower arrangement competitions, bonsai exhibitions, and photography contests. Workshops led by professionals will provide information about high-end gardening practices and eco-friendly methods.
Amusement Park and Children’s Zone: There will be a separate amusement park, with rides and games, to keep children and families entertained, providing an overall wholesome experience for everyone attending.
Mega Musical Nights: There will be musical concerts each night at the festival, hosting world-famous artists and bands, entertaining audiences and enhancing the festival’s magnetism.
Budget and Organizational Plans
The Municipal Corporation (MC) has tabled a budget of ₹1.11 crore for the three-day festival, which indicates a resolve to restore the event’s grandeur. The allocation is higher than the ₹98.76 lakh budget of last year, when the festival was scaled down with the omission of some attractions such as the helicopter ride. The budgeted amount seeks to restore these popular attractions and improve the overall experience of the visitors.
The organization of the festival is done with careful planning to make the combination of flower displays, cultural activities, and recreational activities harmonious. Relations with local businesspeople, horticulturists, and artists are being consolidated to stimulate community participation and highlight Chandigarh’s diverse talent. Efforts are also being made to bring in sustainable practices, keeping the city’s environmental awareness on track.
What’s New in 2025
The 53rd edition brings a number of improvements to enhance the festival experience:
Zero-Waste Initiative: Following the success of past years, the festival reaffirms its commitment to sustainability by adopting a zero-waste policy. This includes the use of biodegradable products, rigorous recycling practices, and environmental awareness campaigns to inform visitors about being environmentally responsible.
Swachh Game Zone: An interactive area that focuses on spreading the message of cleanliness and hygiene using fun games and activities. This program seeks to develop a responsibility for keeping public areas clean in the minds of the participants.
Improved Accessibility: For ensuring the festival grounds are accessible to everyone, the site has been renovated with improved accessibility features like ramps, special viewing points, and support services for differently-abled people.
Looking Back
Though the 2025 festival introduces new features and developments, it also witnesses the missing of some of the elements in earlier versions:
Light and Sound Show: An all-time favourite attraction in past festivals, this light and sound show was absent in the 2024 event as a consequence of budget constraint and continues to be missing from 2025. This audio-visual spectacular was famous for presenting the past and cultural traditions of Chandigarh in terms of a melting pot of light, music, and narration.
Visitor Information
The festival is organized at the Open Ground across the Government Museum and Art Gallery in Sector 10, Chandigarh. The event is reachable through different modes of transport:
By Air: The closest airport is Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, about 14 kilometers from the venue.
By Rail: Chandigarh Railway Station, about 8 kilometers away, is the nearest railhead.
A Grand Celebration Despite Some Omissions
Despite the absence of prizes and helicopter rides, the Chandigarh Rose Festival 2025 remains a spectacular celebration of nature, culture, and community spirit. With fresh attractions and engaging events, visitors can look forward to a vibrant and memorable experience in the City Beautiful.
