Noida, Feb. 20 -- The 38th Noida annual flower show 2026 commenced on Thursday near Shivalik Park in Sector 33A, with authorities claiming nearly 100,000 people thronged the event on the inaugural day of the four-day event. Spread over more than 15 acres, the exhibition is showcasing over 120 varieties of plants, including several brought from outside Noida, said officials, adding that around 80 artists from Bengaluru, Karnataka, have been engaged for the event. Organised by the horticulture department of the Noida authority along with the Floriculture Society Noida, the annual event, is also known as 'Vasant Utsav', said officials, adding the event has been organised with an investment of Rs.2 crore. With the theme of the year's event being the famous Shri Kedarnath Temple of Uttarkhand, a floral replica of the shrine has been created along with Lord Shiva's trident and damru (pellet drum), a major draw for the visitors. The replica has been adorned primarily with chrysanthemums, along with a variety of other flowers including dahlias, lilies, stock and carnations, said officials. Inaugurating the event, Gautam Budh Nagar MP Dr Mahesh Sharma in presence of Noida authority's ADCEO Vandana Tripathy and ADCEO Satish Pal, said, "Today, Noida is emerging like a bright image on a dark canvas. The city has carved out its own identity." The event also features competitions across 30 categories, with participation from over 50 firms, institutions and resident groups. The event's cultural segment included performances by the ITBP as well as Bharatnatyam recitals by children from Thyagaraja Centre for Music. The first day evoked mixed reactions, with officials saying , people from different parts of the Delhi-NCR visited the event. Shikha Rastogi and Sarita Chauhan, the two visiting from Delhi, said, "We really enjoyed the flower show." However, Veena Nandrajog, a Noida resident, said there is still room for improvement. "Last year it was beautiful; this time it is slightly lacking," she said. Anvita Dutt, a Noida resident, described it as "Something to look forward within the city itself." Entry to the flower show is free, and visitors can attend between 11am and 8pm from February 19 to 22....