World Bonsai News
06/04/12
“NATURE IN MINIATURE 2006”
By Nikunj Parekh, India
The Year 2006 became another landmark year for Bonsai in India , when Bonsai Study Group of The Indo-Japanese Association planned and executed one of the biggest Bonsai Exhibition “NATURE IN MINIATURE 2006” was held for three days from Friday 24th to Sunday 26th March 2006 with an unprecedented enthusiasm from our members.
The planning process began in December 2005 and with committed financial support from one of the leading industrial group, we got together to concretize the works ahead. Sprawling podium of a leading art academy was covered with green netting to cut down the March Sunlight. A back drop for Bonsai display was thought out of a sky blue colour with few birds flying high. This according to me signifies that sky is the limit for aiming and the logo of Banyan tree, with long life, can be an ideal nesting and resting place.
We gave a concept of six display areas for exclusive use apart from the general linear table display. Few members worked in teams, few worked individually and few worked quietly. They were told not to divulge each others theme or plan.The members selected thus had an alcove –Tokonoma display, some had large variety of flora, rock grown bonsai, Suihan Penjing and so on. One group arranged only forests yet another displayed robust bonsai collection, yet another had a Japanese room setting with Shohin, Mame bonsai and Viewing stones. Yet another section was having a display of dry tray gardens. The idea and areas demarcated all got busy to complete the display on 23rd March morning till midnight. For Mame and dry tray gardens area basic sketch was provided by Parekhs to the team for execution.
24th March morning 11 am. amidst VIP’s and invitees filled more than capacity the inaugural ceremony concluded. Minister of Public Works Mr. Deshmukh and his wife were the Chief Guests along with Guests of Honour which included Swami Ganapati Sachchidananda of Mysore, Mrs. Rajashree Birla, Matriarch of one of the leading industrial family in India, Consul General of Japan Mr. Yasui and Senior Trustee of our association, Inaugural took place in front of Ficus benghalensis – A Banyan tree – the logo of our group candles were lighted with an invocation prayer song. Appreciating the work done in the last 26 years by the founders of the group and the team work, the minister offered State Government support in future. His wife then distributed BCI certificates specially sent to winners, whose entries were judged by an eminent authority of Bhabha Atomic Energy Dept. The categories included Best Ficus, Best Fruiting, Best Flowering, Best Saikei, Best Suihan Penjing, Best New variety of Bonsai, Best Display, Best Mame, Best Forest, Best effort with most difficult plant to work on making a Bonsai , Best dry tray garden and Best Evergreen Bonsai.
On top of it we gave citations to Best Event Manager 2006, Best Quiet Worker and best special effort for a Cancer patient doing Bonsai. Finally amidst unanimous standing ovation Jyoti & Nikunj Parekh were given a Meritorious services citation to Bonsai in India. The exhibition was open to public freeof cost for three days and rich and famous, artists and ordinary people, media persons, young and old , school and college students, Botanists and gardeners came in thousands. Number of visitors was almost 25,000. We had the timing 10-30 am to 7-30 pm which on popular demand had to be extended from 9-30 am till 8-30 pm.
Consul General of Japan Mr. Yasui, happily agreed Mumbai as the Mecca of Bonsai Activities in South Asia and eulogized the services rendered by Parekh couple and their team. He requested Industrial Empires to support the Bonsai Cause in future and assured his support . There were four sessions of demonstrations by four teams of members giving basic ideas on Bonsai – such as potting, shaping and wiring. These were on first come first served basis with 80 chairs provided and large number of people watched the proceedings willingly standing. The team of volunteers worked in honorary capacity and carried on work of watering, cleaning, arranging plants, explaining and giving guidance during the event. Members and sponsors had a selling section with a good response from public.
A colourful Teacher’s and Bonsai Personalities Directory with financial support from out of Mumbai (Bombay) and local businesses was availed. Many of the outstation bonsai artists leaders came specially to see the exhibition and fraternize. They included people from USA, UK, Muscat, Dubai, Canada and leaders from Goa, Hyderabad, Mysore, Bangalore, New Delhi, Pune, Kolkatta, Indore, Bhopal, Vadodara, Valsad, Silvassa and nearby states. The directory also includes group history, chapter affiliations, messages from Trustee and WBFF Chairman, efforts to reward all deserving, disseminating events of national and international importance , calligraphy, quotations and bio-data of each and every leader who responded to our appeal for a feedback .Through the media of NICHIN BONSAI magazine, we have made attempts to give due publicity to WBC 2005 as well as other events including BCI 2006. We are fully satisfied with the response to BCI 2006 where God Willing nearly 30 participants will visit CHINA. Our motto is to share knowledge on Bonsai with many of our people who still cannot afford to travel or see the exhibitions or conventions, and make them see the demonstrations, with an galaxy of International experts and events to give the message of World Peace thru Bonsai.
On 4th April 2006 a Thanksgiving Prayer meeting followed by dinner and a musical evening was arranged. The leaders of the group then unveiled future programs, events and fully took the onus of mistakes or omissions that occurred in a traditional India manner. The volunteers numbering more than 50 were given mementos at the end of the most successful event ever held in India.
Bonsai Study Group of The Indo-Japanese Association, BFFI, thru coordinated efforts with WBFF , BCI and other like minded people have over the past two and a half decades worked ceaselessly to get a nesting place of relaxation with the Banyan Tree with many a prop roots and many a trunks for a graceful life.