42nd Indian Rose Convention & All India Rose Show
Ambar Bhattacharya, Takmaa News, 16th Dec 2025 : The Indian Rose Federation (IRF), the apex body for rose culture & promotion, has invited Bengal Rose Society (BRS) to host its flagship event, the Indian Rose Convention & All India Rose Show at Kolkata. BRS proposes to host the event in the Lions Safari Park (Rabindra Sarobar, Gate # 10) in collaboration with Lions Safari Park (a Project of Lions Club of North Calcutta) on 3-5 January 2026. Shri Arup Roy, MIC Food Processing Industries & Horticulture, Govt. of West Bengal has kindly agreed to Inaugurate the event. Shri Pradip K. Mazumdar, MIC Panchayats, Rural Development & Cooperation, Govt. of West Bengal has agreed to be a Guest of Honour. More than 250 delegates from all over India have already registered for the event.
The main attraction of this event is the All India Rose Show, where rosarians from across the country are expected to showcase their self- grown roses for competition. This year we expect about 2500 cut rose exhibits to be displayed in the Rose Show. Besides the cut rose blooms, a major attraction of the Show will be the pot grown roses, which are likely to be brought in from Kolkata and beyond (adjoining city areas and states). These pot grown roses, bearing more than 100 flowers at one time, have become a speciality of Bengal, where the growers have perfected the technology for its growing in special media and cultural techniques. This year, we expect more than 700 pots to be exhibited. All the exhibits will be judged by a panel of eminent experts drawn from across the country.
The Technical part of the Indian Rose Convention will be on Day 2 (4th January), where eminent rose experts from India are expected to share their expertise and experiences with the delegates. We expect, Director of the ICAR Directorate of Floricultural Research, Pune; Managing Director & CEO of a major agritech enterprise (Pallishree Limited); an eminent upcoming rose breeder from Bengal, sharing their vast knowledge. In addition, we have a presentation on the preparations and vision for 21st World Rose Convention of the World Federation of Rose Societies (WFRS), being held in Bhopal in January 2028.
BRS proposes to distribute among all the delegates, a Special Number of the ‘Bengal Rose Annual’ – a publication containing articles on rose culture and science written by eminent rosarians from across the world and a booklet on “Kolkata’s Pot Rose Culture – its Process & Cultural Significance’ and ‘Preparations for Rose Competition’. A Coffee Table Book on ‘Roses from Bengal’ is also under preparation.
Bengal Rose Society, registered in 1980/81 under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act 1961,is one of the leading rose society in the country. With over 300 members, the Society boasts among its members, some of the leading names in the Indian rose world today. Started by a few ardent rose lovers under the guidance of Swami Gouriswarananda (Ranamoy) Maharaj of Rama Krishna Mission, Ajit Dewan (a famous nurseryman), Mr. Subhash Guha Niyogi, Mr. Shiva Prasad Bandyopadhyay a scientist, Capt. S.C. Dey (a rose breeder and nurserymen), Dr. Partha R. Dasgupta, and Dr. Kalyan Chakrabarti, among others joined hands and encouraged by the discussions at the First All India Rose Convention (1978) at Bombay, formed the Bengal Rose Society. The Society initially headed by Swami Ramnoy Maharaj, was later headed by such luminaries as Justice G.N. Ray, Justice U.C. Banerjee, Mr. S.B. Mookherjee, Dr. Partha Das Gupta and Dr. Kalyan Chakrabarti. During the last 45 years of its establishment, the Society was given the honour of hosting the All India Rose Convention & Rose Show, four times in 1911, 2005 (the Society Silver Jubilee Year), 2017 and 2020 (along with World Regional Rose Convention). Several of its member rose breeders are extremely active and today Bengal boasts of breeding (developing) nearly one third of the total rose varieties bred in India. The Society usually organises an Annual Rose Show every year, where the rosarians of the state and beyond, showcase their beautiful exhibits. So Far the Bengal Rose Society has held 35 rose Shows. Bengal Rose Society is the only Indian rose Society to have received the World Federation of Rose Societies (WFRS) Bronze Medal (2020). Several (ten) of Bengal rose breeders have also been recognised by the Indian Rose Federation, with the award of its prestigious Shri Vijay Pokarna Gold Medal.
