Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — The Rashtrapati Bhavan gardens known with the name of Mughal Gardens since ages will now be called as Amrit Udyan.
President Draupadi Murmu has given the new name as part of celebrations for “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” to honor 75 years of Indian independence, according to deputy press secretary Navika Gupta.
“On the occasion of the celebrations of 75 years of Independence as Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the President of India is pleased to give a common name to the Rashtrapati Bhawan gardens as Amrit Udyan,” Navika Gupta, Deputy Press Secretary to President Droupadi Murmu said in a statement here.
Designed by Edwin Lutyens — the iconic garden is spread across 15-acres and it incorporates both Mughal and English landscaping styles. The main garden has two channels intersecting at right angles dividing the garden into grid of squares- a Charbagh (a four cornered garden)- a typical characteristic of the Mughal landscaping. There are six lotus shaped fountains at the crossings of these channels rising to a height of 12 feet. The gardens house nearly 2500 varieties of Dahlias and 120 varieties of roses.
The gardens will be inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday, January 29, according to a government Press release. It will be open for the public from January 31 till March 26. Interestingly, the press release detailing plans of the timings, etc., does not mention the phrase Mughal Gardens at all.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra hailed the ‘historic decision’ of the BJP-led Centre, and said in a tweet that it was needed to ‘come out of ‘slavery mentality’ in ‘Amritkal’ (golden era).
