Page 50 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2013Q4

Top left; All the official guests and the ladies decorated the stage with flower arrange-
on stage were invited to ments in time for Official Opening at around 9 a.m.
participate in the lighting of Needless to say, we were all gobsmacked!
the oil lamp.
Top right; Nikunj Parekh The very grand Official Opening was performed by
escorting Holiness Sri Datta Holiness Sri Datta Vijayanda Teertha Swamiji from
Vijayanda Teertha Swamiji Mysore and all the official guests on stage were invited
through the exhibit. to participate in the lighting of the oil lamp. Several
Middle left and right; Opening groups performed traditional dances as part of the
ceremony. official opening. It was all very well done and quite
Bottom; Two views of the a unique experience for those of us visiting India for
convention space at 3:30 p.m.
on the day before the Opening the first time.
Ceremony.
Parts of the program were very different to what we
are used to in other parts of the world. For example,
the workshops, each with 10 participants, were con-
ducted on stage in the main hall at the same time as
the demonstrations. It all worked on a staggered time-
table, with lots of action at all times. Each Headliner
conducted one demonstration, one workshop of ten
people and a single one-on-one workshop, all on the
main stage. It all worked this way; a workshop of 10
people and their Tutor worked along the back of the
stage; to the front and one side was a demonstration
running and to the front and opposite side of the
stage, was another Tutor conducting a one-on-one
workshop. The commentary rotated around each
activity as required. It all worked extremely well and
photos above! Now this is at 3:30 p.m. the day before the plan ensured there was never a dull moment. A
the Opening Ceremony. Over 200 workers labored small team of local bonsai artists was on hand to as-
through the night to totally complete this building! sist with each activity as necessary. The most common
They actually completed all the work around 2 a.m. tree used for the workshops was the Surinam Cherry

48 | BCI | October/November/December 2013