Indian Orchid Festival 2026 concludes at Pakyong

AJAY THAMI

PAKYONG, : The Indian Orchid Festival 2026, organised by ICAR-National Research Centre for Orchids (ICAR-NRCO), Pakyong withthe theme “Orchids for Beauty & Prosperity,” concluded today.

Horticulture ministerPuran Kumar Gurungattended the closing ceremony as the chief guest.

In his concluding address, ICAR-NRCO director Dr. S. P. Das said that this year’s Indian Orchid Festival was organised on a grand scale, with growers, entrepreneurs and stakeholders from across the country participating and exchanging ideas. He informed that major nurseries, tissue culture companies and marketing firms took part in the event to interact with growers and explore opportunities for cultivation, marketing, and collaboration in the orchid industry.

During the four-day festival, technical experts shared their knowledge to benefit orchid growers and enthusiasts. Dr. Das highlighted that Sikkim is known as an “orchid State”, and assured that ICAR-NRCO is ready to cooperate with the State government in promoting the cultivation and marketing of orchids. He expressed hope that an international market for orchids could be developed within the next 10 years.

Addressing the gathering, chief guest Puran Gurung expressed his happiness at attending the second edition of the Indian Orchid Festival organised by ICAR-NRCO,Pakyong. He said the State government looks forward to organising similar events at the North-East India level in collaboration with the institute.

He further stated that the floriculture, horticulture and agriculture sectors have vast global market potential and encouraged interested individuals, particularly youth, to consider these sectors as professions to help meet national demands for products such as red chilli, avocado, and ginger. The Minister also emphasised that while government jobs cannot be provided to all educated youths, alternative professions like orchid cultivation and floriculture offer promising opportunities, and the state government is ready to support aspiring growers.

He added that Sikkim’s recognition as a fully organic farming State has become a significant identity, with increasing demand for organic products from countries including Dubai and others. He congratulated all the winners of the competitions for showcasing their flowers, which reflect years of dedication and hard work.

Dr. N. P. Singh, former director of National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Baramati, also addressed the gathering. He appreciated the initiative taken by ICAR-NRCO and said the festival has significantly boosted the morale of orchid growers. Emphasising the theme “Orchids for Beauty & Prosperity,” he encouraged growers to take inspiration from the event in the years ahead.

Prizes were distributed to winners across 19 competition categories of the Indian Orchid Festival 2026. Participants from Sikkim and the Darjeeling hills showcased a wide variety of orchids during the competition.