New Delhi: It was the 1981 classic ‘Silsila’ and its unforgettable song ‘dekha ek khwab’, filmed amid breathtaking tulip fields of Keukenhof in the Netherlands, which first introduced Indian audiences to the enchanting world of vibrant tulips. Many started dreaming of wandering through the fields with endless ribbons of colour.Forty-five years later, the dream has come true as tulips are blooming across Delhi, transforming its familiar avenues into carpets of red, yellow, pink and purple.Since 2017, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has been planting tulips across Lutyens’ Delhi, and year after year, they continue to recreate a slice of the magic once seen on the silver screen.Celebrating this floral bridge between India and the Netherlands, Marisa Gerards, Dutch ambassador to India, and her husband, Peter Knoope, hosted a special tulip walk at her residence on Sunday. Nearly 50,000 tulips burst into bloom at her residence, bringing a touch of Keukenhof’s iconic charm to Delhi.“There are 3,000 varieties of tulips, ranging from classic single-colour blooms to rare and dramatic forms. At the height of their popularity, varieties were given grand titles such as ‘Admiral’ and ‘General’, and some were even named after historical figures,” said Gerards.Recalling a unique cultural connection between the two countries, she said a rare yellow-and-red tulip had been named after actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in 2005. Expressing her admiration for India’s achievers, Gerards said, “There are people in India who do extraordinary work. I would like to pursue the idea of naming one of the varieties of tulips after an Indian celebrity or political figure.”Drawing a parallel between national symbols of the two countries, she said, “Just as the lotus is deeply rooted in Indian culture, the tulip is inseparable from the Netherlands’ identity. More than a seasonal bloom, it represents optimism and a fresh promise of spring.” Originally from central Asia, tulips were embraced by the Ottoman empire before being introduced to Europe in the 16th century. Over time, they became embedded in the Dutch cultural identity — evolving from ornamental garden flowers into global icons. “During the world wars, our ancestors even survived on tulip bulbs when there was nothing else to eat,” Gerards said.In the 17th century, tulips became so coveted in the Netherlands that they triggered the famed ‘Tulip Mania’, with rare bulbs traded at prices comparable to that of a house. Though the frenzy eventually subsided, the flower’s global appeal only deepened.“Last year, after the flowering season ended, we harvested some of the bulbs and replanted them in the green patch outside our residence. The response was mixed… we are now focusing on timely preservation for better results next year,” said Knoope.Gerards acknowledged Delhi’s success in cultivating tulips despite its warmer climate while emphasising the need to explore varieties that last longer. Typically planted in late Dec during the peak winter, the bulbs mature by Jan. With the onset of spring in early Feb, they flower. The bloom usually lasts for 15 to 20 days.This year, over 5.1 lakh tulip bulbs were procured, with 3.2 lakh allocated to NDMC and 1.9 lakh to Delhi Development Authority.
