Fourteenth Flower Festival in Baku

Today Baku celebrates unofficial annual Flower Festival (Gül Bayramı),  which has been marked  since 2000 in Baku and other cities and regions in the memory of the late President Heydar Aliyev. The festival starts on May 10, the birthday of Heydar Aliyev, and lasts for several days. Traditionally, in the days of the festival in the park named after Heydar Aliyev  in front of the Central Bank are  exhibited colorful compositions of rare flowers  brought to the country.

Wikipedia notes that originally the  festival was held on 11 May, after the birth of the President of Azerbaijan . Since 2004 , the festival is held exactly on the birthday of Heydar Aliyev. It should also be noted that originally the  festival was held on the  Baku Boulevard, the main venue  where  citizens and guests have a rest.

By tradition, today the first see the exposure Aliyevs family,  and only then the citizens and guests of the capital. Contrary to  the previous years, the authorities hide the information  on the amount of funds spent on this holiday, how many flowers and from what countries they have been  imported. Last year, the  chief executive of the city,  Hajibala Abutalibov  revealed the reporters secrets of  delivery tons of flowers  or the holiday.

"Special freighter delivers flowers from Brazil. Countless flowers  were brought from Italy, Holland, France , Turkey, China," said Abutalibov.

At the same time , he did not mention the volume of flowers and their cost. However , according to official data , 150 tons of flowers were delivered.

In 2013, 116 tons  of flowers were delivered  from many countries. The authorities did not disclose the amount spent on  the holiday, and the sources from which funds  are paid.

In 2007, the mayor's office called the figure of 15 million dollars. In 2009, the then deputy Gular Ahmadova, called at the parliament’s session the figure of 14-15 million dollars.

In recent years,  the Mayor  Abutalibov  refuse to  mention the amount spent on holiday.

"Heydar Aliyev is priceless, therefore I do not think of funds. We did not bring as many flowers as he deserves, "- said the mayor at last year's festival.

Just a week ago in Holland, the home  of flowers,  took place  the 67^th   parade of flowers. In contrast to Baku, where the product is presented by importers, parade design , decorated with the best Dutch florists are displayed. Their work can be seen in real time. The theme of the parade changes each year. This year,  it was called "Energy." As befits a true holiday parade is completed by electing a winner.

The Dutch festival organizers see it as w a challenging , promotional activities for domestic flowers. What does stimulate the  Baku holiday: "Love to Heydar Aliyev ?" But it is impossible to lay a way to the hearts of people by  flowers  imported from distant Brazil. -0-