Srinagar, Aug 14 (KINS): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today felicitated 12 winners of various competitions organised during the Tulip Show and Badamwari Spring Festival, recognising their creativity, artistic talent and innovative use of digital media to promote J&K’s iconic spring gardens and floral heritage.
The winners, including a large number of students, particularly from government schools, were presented cash prizes and certificates at a felicitation ceremony held here.
The competitions were held in three categories—painting, Instagram reels and photography—with prizes awarded for first, second and third positions.
In the Tulip Festival 2026 painting competition, Farhan Ali Bhat, Soleha Tanveer and Roja Fayaz secured the first, second and third positions, respectively. In the Badamwari Almond Festival 2026 painting competition, Ahmreen Bashir, Mir Maryam Zaffar and Hanzala Shafiq bagged the top three positions.
In the Instagram Reel Competition organised in connection with the Tulip Show 2026, Salman Ahmad Wani, Shazeeb Iqbal and Ayush Anand secured the first, second and third positions, respectively.
In the photography competition, Umair Wani, Saba Reshi and Sharafat Khan emerged winners, securing the first, second and third positions, respectively.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said the competitions were aimed not only at encouraging artistic and creative talent among students and young people but also at drawing greater public attention to J&K’s major floral attractions through contemporary platforms.
Omar Abdullah highlighted the major events in the annual floriculture calendar and appreciated the public response to Badamwari, Tulip Garden and the newly introduced Chrysanthemum Festival.
He said the competitions provide an opportunity to promote both traditional artistic expression and modern technology. Appreciating the participation of students from various schools, he expressed hope that more young people would take part in such competitions next year.
The Chief Minister observed that painting competitions provide young artists an opportunity to capture the beauty of the gardens on canvas, while photography and Instagram reels help showcase these destinations to a wider audience through social media.
He emphasised that such initiatives help combine creativity, technology and tourism promotion while nurturing young talent and creating greater awareness about J&K’s distinctive floral attractions.
Later, the Chief Minister inspected the award-winning paintings and went through the photographs and Instagram reels submitted by the participants, appreciating the creativity and talent reflected in the entries.
Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Commissioner Secretary, Floriculture, Parks & Gardens, Zubair Ahmed, Director Floriculture Kashmir Mathora Masoom, officers and officials of the Floriculture Department, awardees, participants and media persons were present on the occasion.(KINS)
CM Omar Abdullah felicitates winners of floriculture department competitions
