On June 22nd, Organo Et School hosted a serene and enriching Ikebana workshop at Organo Antharam, specially curated for the Organo Antharam community residents. The session was led by certified experts from the Ohara School of Ikebana — Mrs. Krishnaveni Varada, Mrs. Annapurna Chilukur, and Mrs. Deepika Degapudi — who brought with them a wealth of knowledge and a deep passion for this traditional Japanese floral art.
Understanding Ikebana
The workshop began with an insightful introduction by Mrs. Krishnaveni Varada, who shared the origins and philosophy of Ikebana. This ancient art traces its roots to Japanese rituals where evergreen branches and flowers were offered to invite the divine. Over time, it evolved into a meditative practice of arranging plant materials in a way that reflects harmony between nature, space, and human emotion.
Ikebana emphasizes simplicity, minimalism, and mindfulness — where the space around the flowers is just as important as the blooms themselves. Every stem, angle, and leaves are thoughtfully placed to create balance and meaning.
Exploring the Styles
Participants were introduced to a variety of Ikebana styles by Mrs. Annapurna Chilukur, each demonstrated through beautifully crafted arrangements:
The experts also emphasized the accessibility of Ikebana — noting that a wide variety of containers found at home can be used creatively. From teacups and glasses to decorative kitchen vessels, any everyday object can become a beautiful base for arrangements, adding a personal touch to the art form.
Hands-On Practice
After the demonstrations, participants were guided to create their own Ikebana arrangements using madhu kamini leaves, roses, and baby’s breath. As beginners, they were provided with a bowl and a pre-soaked floral sponge to insert the stems. Each arrangement followed the fundamental Ikebana structure based on a scalene triangle, emphasizing balance and form.
The atmosphere was calm and filled with joy. With patience and focus, everyone practiced the initial structured styles under the gentle guidance of the facilitators.
Embracing Free Style
One of the most inspiring moments came during the free style Ikebana demonstration. Here, the emphasis was on creative expression, where even unconventional materials like snake plants, roses, baby’s breath, jatropha, some dried stems etc were incorporated — all while honouring the principles of balance, harmony, and minimalism.
Some basic tips shared by the experts are:
Less is more: Ikebana incorporates space and focuses on minimalism for maximum impact.
Asymmetry is beauty: When in doubt keep things asymmetrical. A 30/70 balance often creates more natural elegance than a conventional 50/50 split.
A Beautiful Conclusion
The workshop concluded with warm appreciation expressed to the experts by the Organo team, who presented them with thoughtful gifts. It was a day of beauty, learning, and inner calm — an invitation to slow down and find joy in the simple act of arranging flowers.
With a heartfelt “Arigato” (thank you in Japanese) from the facilitators, the Ikebana Pause wrapped up, leaving everyone inspired to bring a little more art, nature, and intention into their everyday lives.
About Organo Et School (OES)
Organo Et School empowers people to embrace eco-living mindsets, behaviors, and habits. We recognize that for any positive impact to be sustainable, it must be long-term and inter-generational.
UNESCO recognized Organo Et School as a green citizen initiative and Uplink, the open innovation platform of the World Economic Forum (WEF) recognized OES as Global Innovative Solution.
Organo Et School is an experiential learning initiative set up by Organo in 2017 and has been facilitating field visits and workshops for Schools and Interest Groups. Organo Et School has impacted over 11,500+ students, 5,000+ adults,1,500+ families, 40+ schools, 15+ communities, 10+ corporates over the past 8 years.
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