Home / Lifestyle / Dahlia Craze Blooms in Sirsi's Rainy Season
Dahlia Craze Blooms in Sirsi's Rainy Season
19 Aug
Summary
- Women in Sirsi are cultivating dahlias, known locally as 'Dere Hoo'.
- The 'Dahlia Mela' provides a platform for women to sell plants and earn income.
- The initiative has expanded to include orchids, gerberas, and other ornamental plants.
A colourful gardening movement, centered on dahlias locally known as 'Dere Hoo', is taking root in Sirsi, Uttara Kannada. This initiative has become a source of joy, creativity, and modest income for women in the region.
Veda Seetaram Hegde, a resident of Neernalli village, pioneered the 'Dahlia Mela' to encourage more women to engage in gardening. The mela provides a dedicated space for women to sell plants grown in their home gardens, with dahlia plants typically selling for Rs 50 to Rs 300.
The interest in gardening has surged, with approximately 50 women actively participating and many more eager to join. Participants are now experimenting with cultivating a diverse range of ornamental plants, including orchids and gerberas, transforming their gardens into vibrant spaces.
The Totgars' Rural Co-operative Agricultural Multipurpose Society Ltd has supported the mela by providing a venue, and organizers have also allowed the sale of homemade food. The success of the mela has led to plans for a second event during the upcoming Ganesha festival season.
