Pune: PMC’s 44th Fruit, Flower, and Vegetable Exhibition Blossoms at Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje Garden
Pune, 14th February 2026: The 44th Annual Fruit, Flower, and Vegetable Exhibition and Garden & Tree Conservation Competition, organized by the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) Garden Department and Tree Authority, was inaugurated on Saturday, February 14, 2026. The two-day event is being held at the Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje Garden on Jangali Maharaj (JM) Road, Shivajinagar.
The exhibition was inaugurated by dignitaries including Deputy Mayor Parshuram Wadekar, Leader of the House Ganesh Bidkar, NCP Group Leader Sopan (Kaka) Chavan, and Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram.
Key Attractions and Themes
This year’s exhibition features a diverse range of artistic and environmental displays created by the Garden Department staff and various organizations. Major highlights include:
Vande Mataram Tribute: A special “Bharat Mata” floral art installation marking the 150th anniversary of the song ‘Vande Mataram’.
Environmental & Social Themes: A depiction of a leopard’s habitat within human settlements (highlighting human-animal conflict), art made from waste tires and plastic bottles, and a “Flamingo Garden.”
Garden Concepts: Displays include a Zen Garden, Nakshatra Garden, a floral buggy, a kitchen garden, a “House of Fruits,” and a waterfall feature.
Floral Art: A massive butterfly structure made entirely of flowers and various bonsai and floral arrangements.
Tribute to Late Ajit Pawar
A significant aspect of the event is a tribute paid to the late former Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar, through a specially crafted Rangoli at the venue.
Participation and Competitions
The exhibition sees participation from the Botany Department of Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), Tilak Ayurved Mahavidyalaya, Friends of Bonsai, Brahma Kumaris, and various NGOs.
According to Dr. Ashok Ghorpade, Garden Dept chief, the competition includes 266 different sections. A total of 1,100 contestants have submitted 2,480 entries. Categories include:
Arrangements of seasonal and perennial flowers like Dahlias, Orchids, Anthuriums, Gerberas, Roses, and Carnations.
Vegetable carving, salad decoration, and processed foods by women’s self-help groups.
Nature and environment-themed photography.
The exhibition is open to the public free of cost on February 14 and 15, 2026, until 9:00 PM. The civic administration has appealed to all citizens to visit and witness the displays.
