YEAR END CELEBRATIONS AT BODHI

Vijaya Chamundeswari

                  Celebrations are on for December with Christmas round the corner and New year playing pee- ka -boo. We at Bodhi enjoyed our year end meet which began with our President welcoming us all with a cheerful birthday smile. We were all ears to the string of achievements of 2025 while our eyes were on the silky chocolate cake on the table. Very patiently we waited for Dr. Yogesh to cut the cake, fed him bits as tiny as a Keshitsbo and gobbled chunks of the juicy chocolaty cake forgetting that we might become like an Omono or Dai.

Seasons Greetings 

 & 

A Happy New Year

 

Celebrations

               Back to BONSAI – we had a game of TAMBOLA and the winners were gifted plants that were mostly Moyogi and a few were Chokkan ready to be worked upon. Even the menu was Chinese reminding us of our Heron Bonsai master Peter Chan. Bonsai was made popular in America too by John Naka.  Are we surprised that the Chinese Cuisine is popular worldwide! With the same patience and dedication needed for Bonsai we dug into our plates savouring every morsal. If growing a Bonsai can help us reach immortality as the belief goes, so does good food, I guess!

The Bodhi Tribe

 

            We then had our eyes on our very creative artist Molly Cherian who was scampering hither n thither squeezing her palms – she forgot to bring her Asabachi which she had cleaned and prepared to bring for the Penjing Demo. We were quite resourceful in getting a tray which she did make do wonderfully as she placed soil, rocks, figurine and water along with Yucca plants creating an Oasis. A creation that showed adaptability and resourcefulness. A Shansui was created. The 3 styles of penjing are Shumo a tree Penjing, Shuihan a rock penjing and Shansui a mix of land, water and figurines.

Molly's Penjing-Oasis

            Ficus Nuda and Retusa were worked upon by Dr, Yogesh and Suseela, turning very confused forms into beautiful art pieces and Ouch! one branch did break but the philosophical mind just says …maybe it was just not meant to be. Ficus seams to be our favourite in Chennai with the numerous varieties available – why not! When the oldest Bonsai surviving more than 1000 years happens to be a Ficus Retusa in a museum in Italy.

Contemplating and creating >

              Imperfection Impermanence and Incompleteness are the key notes of Wabi Sabi which encourages us to keep working on our plants. This is a continuum that keeps our creativity alive. Year 2025 comes to an end but our love for Bonsai begins with renewed energy. Every year is a new beginning for us Bonsai lovers. Take us to a nursery and we are nothing less than kids in a candy shop. Wonder what would we do if we were in Omiya! Just as the Yamaki the White Pine stood the bombing of Hiroshima still stands tall in Washington, we at Bodhi will stand up to our passion so steadfast that not even a virus like Covid 19 or any other can shake.

 

    CHEERS TO US ALL AT BODHI BONSAI          SEASONS GREETINGS AND A HAPPY 2026

 

P.S. All the words in bold are taken from the quiz that Sheela Babu had prepared and we all failed miserably. It was like Sashi Tharoor’s vocabulary but we are enlightened beings now

Winners with their prizes

Written  by Vijaya Chamundeswari 

Photos  Vijaya  Chamundeswari