A Floral Extravaganza Returns
The highly awaited festival of Chandigarh Rose Festival 2025 will mesmerize tourists from February 21 to 23, 2025, in its 53rd edition. Hosted by the Department of Tourism of Chandigarh Administration, the festival is a gold standard of horticultural and cultural splendor, drawing thousands of tourists from all over the nation and world. Famous for its colorful rose exhibition, cultural celebrations, and interactive events, the festival is now one of the most popular annual festivals of Chandigarh.
When winter gives way to spring, the city awakens to a kaleidoscope of colors and fragrances, transforming Chandigarh into a painter’s wonderland. The centerpiece is the Zakir Hussain Rose Garden, the largest rose garden in Asia, where roses by the thousands bloom in full glory. Over the years, the Chandigarh Rose Festival has evolved from a simple show of flowers to an event of multifaceted dimensions, bringing together nature, imagination, music, and entertainment in a colorful mosaic.
A Blossoming Legacy: The History of Chandigarh Rose Festival
The history of the festival is traced back to the year 1967 when Mohinder Singh Randhawa, the then first Chief Commissioner of Chandigarh, dreamed of a festival that would pay tribute to nature and also to the people’s involvement. His dream led to the creation of the Zakir Hussain Rose Garden, a 30-acre rose haven located in Sector 16, where over 50,000 rose bushes of 1,600 varieties bloom.
Besides its majestic array of roses, the garden is also a repository of medicinal plants like bel, bahera, harar, camphor, and yellow gulmohar, attesting to its ecological importance. The Rose Festival, timed at an annual frequency, not only reflects the city’s dedication to nature conservation but also celebrates cultural heritage and tourism, making Chandigarh a place to travel this season.
Festival Highlights: What to Expect in 2025
This year, Chandigarh Rose Festival 2025 has something for all with its varied activities, performances, and attractions for all. You can look forward to:
1. Fascinating Floral Arrangements
The beauty of the festival is the gorgeous rose displays. From the classical red roses to the unusual hybrids, the garden will boast beautifully laid-out flower exhibitions. Not only will they be a visual delight, but they will also provide educative details about rose farming, hybridization, and environmentally friendly methods.
2. Cultural Performances & Live Entertainment
A festival of such a scale cannot be without music, dance, and art. The festival this year will include:
Folk Dances: Traditional dance performances presenting the culture of Punjab and other states.
Live Concerts: A lineup of the top national and local performers, bringing vibrant energy to the festival.
Theatrical Performances: Theatrical performances and street plays on social and cultural issues.
The evenings will conclude with Mega Musical Nights, where great musicians and bands that will be in the spotlight will make the festival a musical paradise.
3. Competitions and Interactive Workshops
For both gardening and photography enthusiasts, the event provides thrilling competitions and learning experiences such as:
Flower Arrangement Competitions – Original flower arrangements by amateur and professional artists
Bonsai Exhibitions – Showcasing miniature tree masterpieces by bonsai experts.
Photography Contest – Encouraging guests to capture the beauty of the festival in their cameras.
Gardening & Sustainability Workshops – The workshops, presented by horticulture experts, will educate gardeners on gardening sustainably, composting, and landscaping the city.
4. Children’s Zone & Amusement Park
An exclusive amusement area with thrilling rides, interactive games, and interactive adventures guarantees that families and children have a day out they will never forget. The zone offers a great mix of learning and entertainment, so the festival is a healthy day out for the family.
2025 Budget & Organizational Plans
The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (MC) has approved a budget of ₹1.11 crore for the 53rd Rose Festival, which is an indication of steps to restore the festival’s glory. The budget is more than the ₹98.76 lakh approved in 2024, when some of the most popular activities like helicopter rides were being eliminated because of budgetary reasons.
This year, the core aspects have been reinstated so that the experience is balanced and stimulating. Tie-ups with local entrepreneurs, gardeners, and artists are being enhanced to encourage greater community involvement. Also, attempts are being made to incorporate sustainable measures so that the endeavour aligns with Chandigarh’s green culture.
What’s New in 2025?
The Chandigarh Rose Festival 2025 features some new elements designed to increase the enjoyment of the visitors:
1. Zero-Waste Initiative
Consistent with the city’s green initiatives, the festival will maintain a zero-waste policy via:
- Employing biodegradable materials for food packaging and party decorations.
- Encouraging recycling stations across the site.
- Organizing awareness campaigns for waste management.
2. Swachh Game Zone
A new and innovative feature this year is the Swachh Game Zone, where people can play interactive games that encourage hygiene and cleanliness. The idea is to make people feel responsible to keep public spaces clean.
3. Expanded Access for Everyone
To ensure equal participation for the differently-abled, ramps, viewing areas, and supporting facilities have been made available at the festival ground. It is the administration’s effort to make public events inclusive.
Missing Pieces: What Won’t Be Back
Even with the inclusion of new features, some of the older features are still lacking, such as: Light and Sound Show: This highly visually engaging attraction was among the crowd favorites but was cancelled in 2024 in an effort to save money. Unfortunately, it is still not on the 2025 schedule. Helicopter Rides: A festival favorite and a real adrenaline rush, these rides were axed last year and are not part of this year’s budget proposals.
How to reach Chandigarh Rose Festival 2025
The location of the festival is the Zakir Rose Garden and at the Open Ground in front of the Government Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10, which are located next to each other and are convenient to reach by using different modes of transport:
- By Air: Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, the closest airport, is just 14 km away.
- By Rail: Chandigarh Railway Station, 8 km from the location, has a rail link to other major cities.
- By Road: Chandigarh’s well-developed road network provides convenient connectivity for tourists from Delhi, Punjab, and Haryana.
A Grand Celebration Awaits Even in the absence of some of the traditional attractions, the Chandigarh Rose Festival 2025 will be a grand combination of nature, culture, and entertainment. With new attractions, new programs, and public participation, the festival this year is going to offer a lively and interactive experience to the tourists. If you are a nature lover, a music lover, or just an individual looking for an action-filled weekend excursion, the City Beautiful welcomes you to bask in the flowering splendor of the Chandigarh Rose Festival 2025. Do make sure to put it on your calendars and come and enjoy this beautiful celebration of music, flowers, and cultural merriment!