As the curtain came down on the 118th Annual Floral Carnival (AFC) at the Government Botanical Garden (GBG) in Ooty on Sunday evening, thousands of tourists from different parts of the country and abroad took home with them great memories about the festival.
However one aspect which is likely to linger long is a short performance by the Jazz band of the Hebron School located adjacent to GBG.
Equipped with various types of instruments particularly four kinds of saxophones about twenty members of the band enlivened a corner of the garden’s main lawn which had been set aside for the performance.
It made many turn their attention from the flowers and train their cameras and videos on the band. While a number of tourists told The Hindu that it reflected the culture of this hill station and they were fortunate to be entertained by a jazz band,a visitor Rajesh Rawath of Maharashtra said that he had not bargained for such an enjoyable side show.
Performers Daniel Weaich and Deepthi Balaji said that they looked forward to such opportunities. Conductor Andrew Trythall said those such occasions are mutually satisfying as the performers enjoy them as much as the audience. Pointing out that many of the schools in the Nilgiris have bands, observers opined thaton weekends they should perform .
An official of the horticulture department said that it was being seriously considered. It will add value to the garden. Stating that a practice of holding band performances in the garden was in vogue several years ago, he said that a band stand is one of the most prominent features of the garden.
