India’s First Swastik Shaped ‘Lotus Garden’ at Lucknow

India’s Minister of Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, inaugurated India’s first Swastik-shaped “Lotus Garden” at the Bota CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow. 

The newly developed Swastik Lotus Garden, spread across 930 sq. m, is the first of its kind in the country. It houses 60 varieties of lotus sourced from across the world and 50 taxa of water lily, with conservation ensured through advanced genetic methods, light exposure regulation, and scientific treatments.

Among its highlights is the NBRI-Namoh 108, the world’s first 108-petal lotus developed at Lucknow. NBRI in Lucknow is a premier research institute under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), dedicated to advanced plant science, conservation, and botanical innovation.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said the garden would act as a hub for biodiversity conservation and entrepreneurship, while also emerging as a new tourism destination.

“This is not only a unique conservation effort, it is also a platform for creating new opportunities in floriculture, wellness, and agri-based industries,” Dr. Jitendra Singh remarked. 

The Minister highlighted the achievements of CSIR institutions in Lucknow. He added that the facility symbolises the government’s vision of linking science with livelihoods.

Dr. Jitendra Singh cited the development of the Namo lotus, pest-resistant cotton, and innovative work in floriculture under the Floriculture Mission, which offers new livelihood options to farmers and entrepreneurs.

The minister pointed out how Lucknow Institute became famous two years back for scientifically developing a “108 petal Namo Lotus” that later figured as a prize-winning question in the popular TV reality quiz show “Kaun Banega Crorepati”.

He also recalled the city’s contribution to pharmaceutical research, with 13 new drug candidates developed locally, including for cancer and fatty liver disease.

The Minister further noted that Lucknow was the birthplace of globally consumed Menthol products and the popular Mint tablet. “The mint lozenge that the world knows was developed here. Today, our scientists are working on new value-added products such as herbal mouth fresheners, creating strong markets,” he said.

Linking these scientific contributions with the city’s cultural identity, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, “Lucknow is not only about its monuments like the Imambara. It is also about innovations like the 108-petal lotus and mint-based products. This is the face of New India.”