Kathmandu, November 2 Floriculture Association Nepal with support from the Ministry of Agriculture is organising four-day long 9th Godavari Flower Exhibition 2072 in the Jawalakhel playground from November 5. Speaking at a press meet today, Dilip Bade, vice president of FAN said the four-day long exhibition will kick off from Thursday with the aim of promoting floriculture business in Nepal. With the Tihar fesitval just around the corner, this exhibition is expected to receive encouraging footfall as godavari (chrysanthemum) has a major significance in Hindu festivals. ‘Lets decorate our house and surroundings by planting godavari’ is the main theme of the exhibition this year. Like every year, a competition for the best stalls and flowers will also be held. The exhibition will have a total of 36 stalls. “The recent earthquakes and internal political instability has caused a huge setback to flower business. In such a bleak scenario, the fair is expected to give the much needed boost to the flower entrepreneurs,” said Bade. He said there were around 675 nurseries in 38 districts by the fiscal year 2013/14. He said currently more than 41,000 people have been directly and indirectly involved in the flower business. “Florists sold flowers worth Rs 1.27 billion within the country and exported flowers worth Rs 40 million in the last fiscal year,” he added. The organisers claimed that the exhibition has helped promote flower business in the country.