By Vijaya Chamundeswari
I parked my car and entered the premises of Lalit Kala Academy. As I stepped towards the hall my face lit into a bright smile. The green board announcing the exhibition of BODHI stood tall in the entrance welcoming all nature lovers. This was a very different experience for me who has visited this hall umpteen times. My eyes were always on the wall that had beautiful paintings of renowned artists and budding painters and sculptors. Now I saw the passionate creations of our own Bodhi Bonsai artists - sitting pretty, as if they have entered the hall of fame. I felt as if they were all smiling at me proudly as I passed by, a branch brushed my arm as if to say, ‘Hey! How do I look?’ I smiled at her and clicked a pic. Every rustle that I heard felt like words that could be comprehended. The connect was very strong. Another beauty waved her flowing branch from yonder for attention. I was walking following the array but couldn’t help stepping back for a second look. Wonderful creations all.
All things bright and beautiful all creations great and small.
All things wise and wonderful our Bodhi made them all!
(excuse me for tweaking the words in excitement)
 |
| Our lil greenies |
The philosophy of Bonsai that Dr. Yogesh had penned so well in our magazine came to my mind. I floated along in a different world under this Bodhi ‘Tree’- our well-knit family of Bonsai lovers. The cascading Jade bowed down humbly while the raft whispered “I fall only to rise again” Mame cuties perched here and there were like Nature’s cherubs while those wise old trees with spread out branches with a thick and rugged trunk looked at us with a calm look of, ‘Oh! I’ve seen it all.’ We had some literati bonsai tall, bent, curved and even twisted with a little green pad at the end saying life is more beautiful when you are flexible enough to adapt to situations. Oh! I can go on with my philosophical brain but let’s move on to some proud moments of this exhibition.
 |
| With our dignitaries |
A proud moment for Bodhi indeed! We had the Consul general of Japan Mr. Takahashi Muneo to inaugurate our exhibition. Our member Beena in her chirpy voice welcomed him in Japanese while his eyebrows lifted in wonder, nodding appreciatively. We were honoured by the presence of our very own Ravindran Sir of Nikki Bonsai – the president of SABF, Regi Sensei Mrs. Malathi Pandurang Director Sogetsu School of Ikebana Chennai, Dr. Krishna Kumar Ret IFS, Mr. Vikram Thambusamy of Bonsai Exotica, Mr. Jalandhar Reddy of Adeniums India, Mr & Mrs Sivaji of Chennai Bonsai club, Mr. Purushothaman of Exotic Plant Nursery – In fact it was a coming together of all bonsai masters and enthusiasts under one roof.
Coming back to the exhibits – we also had a section of Suiseki – the art of viewing rocks and stones as a natural sculpture. Our member Mr. Yuvraj is a collector who brings to life a simple stone with a story behind it. As kids we all had this habit of imagining forms in shadows and clouds. Suiseki kindles this imagination of ours to see different forms in stones. Suiseki is sculpted by Nature by the constant flow of water in streams or by the breaking and fusing of rocks by natural calamities or constant winds.
 |
| Suiseki ,stone viewing. |
Bonsai was seen in different styles that were explained to some who had not known much about them. This gave a fillip to enrol in our beginner’s workshop. Two workshops that were held in two different days during the exhibition had nine members each. A power point presentation with demos and hands on experience got them excited to enrol as Bodhi members. They continue to be guided by our senior members.
 |
| Demo in progress |
.jpeg) |
| Enthusiastic students of the beginers class |
The Annual Bonsai Magazine was released by Mr. Takahashi Muneo which contained the essence of all our efforts in spreading the joy of Bonsai as a hobby.
Three days flew by and our passion to do more surmounted. We already started planning for the next year with new ideas popping in our brains like spluttering popcorn. We need to dig up more, chop a lot, wire and twist and do a jig before it soon is another day and ready for another show. We at Bodhi have geared up for the next with more members and renewed enthusiasm.
