n keeping with tradition, the 38th annual ten-day Chrysanthemum Festival began in Islamia College University. The event was attended by a large number of visitors, including delegates from across the country, students, teachers, families, horticulture experts and environmental activists.

Japan’s ambassador to Pakistan Akamastsu Shuichi, his wife and KazumasaTakane, counselor and head of culture and information section were the special guests on the occasion. They were accorded a warm welcome by the students and senior faculty members. A presentation about the activities was given in the Roos Koppel Hall. The guests were also shown a floral art exhibition.

Higher Education Secretary Dr Muhammad Israr Khan inaugurated the event in the presence of the vice-chancellor, senior faculty members and office-bearers of Pakistan Floral Art Society.

The Islamia College University has a cherished tradition of the annual Chrysanthemum Festival, locally known as Gul-i-Dawoodi.

For over a century, this festival has been the hallmark of the college’s cultural identity, blending Persian-Islamic aesthetic sensibilities, Pashtun hospitality and the youthful exuberance of student life. The tradition is not merely a flower show; it is a living testament to the college’s ethos of beauty, discipline and intellectual pursuit.

According to the organisers of the festival, the floral show was first held in 1920. Since 1987, it has been a scheduled annual event.

The tradition can be traced back to the founding years of the Islamia College. Established in 1913 by Sir George Roos-Keppel, with the active support of the British Indian government and the Khans of the then North-West Frontier Province, Islamia College was conceived as a modern educational institution that would preserve and promote Islamic culture and Pashtun identity while embracing Western learning.

Vice-Chancellor Dr Ahmad Rehman Saljooqi told TNS that the Gul-i-Dawoodi tradition was more than a flower show; it was an embodiment of the college’s motto: “Knowledge, Character and Discipline.”

“It teaches students the value of hard work, teamwork and aesthetic appreciation. It connects the past with the present, linking the college’s founders with today’s youth. In a region often associated with conflict, the sight of thousands of chrysanthemums blooming year after year reminds everyone that beauty and culture can endure,” said Saljooqi.

Earlier, the festival was organised in the third week of November. This year, it was organised towards the end of December to coincide with the peak blooming season of chrysanthemums in the Peshawar valley.

The main venue was the historic Dawoodi Garden, a sprawling lawn in front of the iconic main building, flanked by the grand clock tower and the old assembly hall. The garden was transformed into a sea of white, pink, yellow and maroon flowers. Hundreds of students, faculty and alumni participated in the cultivation, arrangement and display of chrysanthemums.

The preparation began months in advance. Each hostel and faculty member was assigned a specific area of the garden to cultivate. Students competed fiercely but fairly to produce the best flowers.

Islamia College’s Horticulture Department and senior students, provided technical guidance on soil preparation, grafting, pinching and staking. The competition was judged on the size, symmetry, colourand freshness of the flowers, as well as the overall design of the display. The winning hostel received the coveted Dawoodi Shield.

This year, the floral art exhibition by artists of Pakistan Floral Art Society attracted people in droves. The Japanese delegation appreciated the organisers and student-volunteers for their unique presentation.

Ali Hoti, the sports director, toldTNSthat the event had already become a signature feature of the college.He said it reinforced the spirit of peace, love and beauty. “Every year, new varieties of chrysanthemum are added to the display. Over 30 stalls were on display this year,” he said.

A group of students from another local college - including Suhail Khan, Ehansullah, Muaddasir and Hasnainsaid - that they found the event wonderful. They said that it could instill in youth, an inspiration to save the environment.

ShamzaDurrani, who wrote her thesis on this floral tradition said, “Gul-i-Dawoodi, known as Gul-i-Shashti in Pashto carries great significance.Ancient Gandahara, includingthe Peshawar valley, was characterised by a variety of flowers. Till today, several kinds of flowers are grown in the outskirts of Peshawar city.Pashto folk literature is replete with mention of blooming flower culture.”

Over time, the festival has evolved while remaining true to its roots. In recent years, the college has incorporated environmental awareness into the tradition, promoting organic cultivation and water conservation.

Photography contests, poetry readings and lectures on the history of chrysanthemums in Persian and Pashtun literature have been added. The festival now attracts thousands of visitors, including schoolchildren, journalists and tourists, making it one of the largest cultural events in Peshawar.

Farrah Azamthe PFAS president;DurdanaTariq ,the Lotus Club Peshawar president; GulandamMohsin, the vice-president;RukhsanaQayum, the Lotus Club treasurer; IslamabadClubpresident NaheedRaza and WaqarBoolani, a former president of Magnolia Club were also among the special guests.

As the sun set on the final day, the garden was illuminated with fairy lights. Fragrant air permeated the venue. Students and visitors lingered, taking photographs and promising to return next year.

The chrysanthemums, though short-lived, have once again fulfilled their promise: to remind the world that even in the most challenging of times, beauty, grace and tradition can flourish.

The writer is a Peshawar-based journalist. He mostly writes on art, culture, education, youth and minorities.His X handle: @Shinwar-9