Sat May 24 16:58:47 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article rewrite based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
The 62nd annual summer festival and flower show in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, inaugurated on Saturday, May 24, 2025, showcases over 70,000 flowers arranged in various shapes and sizes. The event, running for 10 days until June 1, aims to showcase Tamil Nadu’s art and culture and attract tourists. Highlights include floral displays representing local products like Dindigul locks, Ayakudi guavas, and Kodaikanal hill garlic. The event is expected to draw around 1.5 lakh visitors, with cultural programs and environmental awareness messages also featured.
**News Article:**
**Kodaikanal Blooms: Summer Festival and Flower Show Opens to Packed Crowds**
**KODAIKANAL, May 24, 2025** – The vibrant colors and fragrant blooms of Kodaikanal are on full display as the 62nd annual Summer Festival and Flower Show kicked off at Bryant Park today. The 10-day extravaganza was inaugurated by Dindigul Member of Parliament R. Sachithanantham and Dindigul Collector S. Saravanan, alongside dignitaries from the tourism and agriculture departments.
The flower show boasts an impressive collection of over 70,000 flowers from around the world, meticulously arranged into eye-catching displays. This year’s highlights include intricate floral representations of local specialties, such as the Dindigul lock, Ayakudi guava, and Kodaikanal hill garlic. Visitors were also captivated by floral peacocks and vegetable carvings of elephants.
“We are delighted to showcase the rich art and culture of Tamil Nadu through this festival,” said Additional Chief Secretary K. Manivasan. “We anticipate a significant increase in tourist arrivals over the next ten days.”
Beyond the floral spectacle, the festival aims to promote environmental awareness, with displays urging visitors to reduce plastic use and protect local wildlife. A variety of cultural performances and competitions are also scheduled throughout the event. Organizers have made arrangements for basic amenities, including parking and transportation, to manage the anticipated crowds of 1.5 lakh visitors.
The Summer Festival and Flower Show runs until June 1st, promising a memorable experience for locals and tourists alike.