The Sogetsu Branch, Chennai held its monthly workshop session on November 22nd, 2025 at ABK Hall. The meeting began at 11am to a room filled with anticipation. The theme held promise for creativity - apply Principles 39 and 44 of the 50 Principles of Sogetsu by founder . Principle No. 44: "Be sure to make definite points of emphases and avoid redundancy in the arrangement." Principle No. 39: "Ikebana must appear as if it is a product of the environment in which it is displayed." Sensei's DemonstrationsSensei Prerana demonstrated Principle No. 44 and Sensei Trishala No. 39. Sensei Prerana's first arrangement used a play of artificial plastic wrappers, squeezed and stapled together. From this she created two beautiful lines that she placed in a three-opening vase. The central opening held a lone white anthurium that harmonized with the lines of plastic.
 | | Sensei Prerana's arrangement: Plastic wrappers twisted and stapled together, and a white chrysanthemum in a ceramic container. Theme: Principle 44. |
Sensei Prerana's second arrangement was done with banana leaves and a single red gerbera in a white ceramic container. The adherence to the principle was displayed in the perfect harmonizing of elements - no element was extra or missing. Herein lay the beauty of the arrangement.
 | Sensei Prerana's arrangement using banana leaves and a red gerbera in a white ceramic container. Theme: Principle 44.
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Sensei Trishala demonstrated Principle No. 39. Her first arrangement was a rendering of a katcheri scene from the South. She used a blend of natural materials and a man-made music system to create the scene. A sunflower was used to connote the voice of a singer, its companions in yellow echoing the accompanist’s gentle support. Umbrella plant branches were strategically placed to take the form of the mridangam, steady and grounding, while mitsumata traced the unseen waves of melody as they rose and drifted through the air.
 | | Sensei Trishala's arrangement: Yellow chrysanthemums, umbrella plant branches, and mitsumata branches in a katcheri setting with music system and speakers. Theme: Principle 39. |
Art and pollution was the subject of Sensei Trishala's second arrangement. She used a bundle of trash collected from home. Out of this, she imagined a familiar Chennai scene abounding in garbage after a short rain spell. She created poetry out of the chaos by adding a line of empty cans to give structure and beauty to the arrangement. She interspersed the trash with a few plants, almost as if to say that vegetation could survive amidst the chaos, because rain gives life.
From the depths of trash, abounds a serenity unreal Hope holds fast even in despair Luscious green emerges as if to say "I endure" Life clings on strong and steadfast Trash is trash, and yet beauty abounds. Sensei Trishala's arrangement using trash, glass vases, and small plants in a fiberglass container. Theme: Principle 39.
Members' ArrangementsAfter the senseis' demonstrations, the members applied their interpretation of the principles to their arrangements.
 | | Sensei Molly's arrangements. Arrangement 1 uses a single anthurium flower and a moth-eaten anthurium leaf with a spray of teak inflorescence in a Lebanese ceramic container. Theme: Principle 44. Arrangement 2 uses bird's nest ferns, canna pods, and miniature water lily leaves in a black shallow container. Theme: Principle 39 utilizing the water body as the environment. |
 | Sensei Ambika's arrangements. Arrangement 1 portrays the "Grasslands of Bhigwan". The different colours of grasses are represented by the dracaena leaves and the wildflowers by button chrysanthemums. Theme: Principle 39. Arrangement 2 uses a black and brown vase as the focal point. A tube rose is placed high to accentuate the neck of the vase, and delicate henna leaves mirror the movement of the lines on the vase. The colours of the vase are complemented in the material. Theme: Principle 44.
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 | | Sensei Chitra Thiagarajan's arrangement (left): Ferns, palm frond, money plant leaf, heliconias, and a bunch of tiny maroon leaves in a decorated wooden box. Theme: Principle 39. Zeenath's arrangement (right): Devil's ivy and eustoma flowers in a delicate glass container to represent pristine nature and greenery. The water, plants, and roots symbolize trees and flowers in harmony with space and nature. Theme: Principle 39. |
 | Chelvi's arrangement: A single white chrysanthemum flower with fishtail palm berries and sanseviera leaves in a wooden container to show line and balance with no redundancy. Theme: Principle 44.
Luna's arrangement: Aesthetically placed palm fronds with heliconia in a ceramic container. Lines depict harmony and sense of space. Theme: Principle 44.
 | Susan's arrangement (left): Ixora and African Princess branches with a chrysanthemum in a delicately shaped glass container. The lines of the materials are arranged to harmonize with the lines of the container. Theme: Principle 44. Sensei Meenu's arrangement (right): Electrical waste in a palmyra basket, placed on a noodles tray. Yellow shampoo ginger, and fishtail palm berries complete the arrangement to reflect electrical waste. Theme: Principle 39.
| Susan's arrangement (left): Yellow chrysanthemums, sanseviera leaves, lily plant leaves, and a solitary branch in a wooden bowl placed in an African basket to reflect a garden environment. Theme: Principle 39. Mohan's arrangement (right): A solitary sunflower and a bunch of limoniums in a white fiber glass container to display well blended line and mass. Theme: Principle 44. |
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To celebrate Children’s Day on November 14th this
year, the Chennai Sogetsu Branch conducted an Ikebana Workshop for the children
at Chennai Higher Secondary School, Alwarpet. This initiative was supported by
Madras Metro Round Table 95 of Chennai.
Senseis Meenakshi Sarin and Prerana
Mehta, along with the supporting members, conducted the workshop most dexterously.
They had the rapt attention of nearly 75 students from Grades 6 to 9. There were demos by the senseis, followed by an engaging hands-on session with the students.
Beyond Ikebana, the children were given an insight into
Japanese culture and language, and were taught the names of the flowers and
materials used. This was truly a meeting of Ikebana and young minds, where the children were encouraged to appreciate the natural world. And what better way to do this than to work with flowers and plants, as demonstrated by the pictures below.
 | | The children enjoying the demos presented by the senseis |
 | The senseis and their support group: (from left to right),
Sensei Prerana Mehta, Sensei Meenu Sarin, Chelvi Gopinath,
and Bhuvana Shivshankaran |
 | The girls proudly pose with their arrangements
The boys proudly pose with their arrangements
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 | The senseis and their support group: (from left to right standing)
Sensei Prerana Mehta, Sensei Meenu Sarin.
From left to right sitting: Zeenath Kadir, Chelvi Gopinath,
Bhuvana Shivshankaran, and Shylaja Theetharappan
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 | Sensei Prerana Mehta with her arrangement
(banana leaves, chrysanthemums, and gypsophila)
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 | Sensei Meenakshi Sarin with her arrangement
(fishtail palm berries, sunflowers, and green button chrysanthemums)
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“The essence of Ikebana lies in the relationship between the
plant materials and the containers. By focusing on the container to be used,
new ideas of composition may come to mind.” - Akane Teshigahara on the importance of containers in Ikebana arrangements. This relationship between plant materials and containers, and the immense potential for new ideas, was
beautifully displayed in the Sogetsu workshop held on Saturday, October 25th
at 11 am at the ABK hall. 11 members attended.
Demos by the Senseis
Senseis Meenu and Chitra Thiagarajan
demonstrated their skills at bringing the best out of containers in their
arrangements.
Sensei Meenu started the workshop with a uniquely shaped
black vase and arranged the materials - dried palm leaves sprayed with gold, a sunflower, and a dry philodendron leaf – to complement the shape of the
vase. The rich hues of gold, brown, and yellow enhanced the beauty
of the arrangement.
For her second demo, Sensei Meenu chose a rectangular orange vase. The interesting shape of the vase was enhanced with the linear and bent
stalks of umbrella palms. Sprigs of white chrysanthemum added a contrast in colour.  | | Sensei Meenu and her arrangements | Left: Dried palm leaves sprayed with gold, a sunflower, and a dry philodendron leaf in a ceramic container. Right: Umbrella palms (bent) and a white chrysanthemum in a ceramic container |
Chitra Thiagarajan was the second demonstrator. Her first arrangement focused on the circular shape of a round vase, with her materials thoughtfully chosen to complement the shape. The umbrella palm leaves and round lotus pods worked well with the container, as did the serrated lotus pods against the ridges of the vase. The round shaped white gerbera completed the harmony.
The second arrangement utilized eco-friendly egg cartons (one painted indigo blue) along with monstera and umbrella plant leaves, and pink gerberas. The monstera leaves were artistically trimmed to blend with the shape of the egg cartons.
 | | Sensei Chitra and her arrangements | Top left: Fan palms, lotus pods, and a white gerbera in a ceramic blue container. Top right: Umbrella plant leaves, monstera leaves, and pink carnations on eco friendly egg cartons |
Participant demos:After the demos, the members were invited to showcase their arrangements.
 | Left: Divya Selvam | Driftwood arranged in a crescent shaped container with a gerbera for contrast Right: Luna Bose | Painted sticks and chrysanthemums in fiberglass containers |
 | | Sensei Molly Cherian | Three small containers in a single arrangement to depict the overall shape of the containers. Caladium leaves and aglonema buds in a flat pot; curved branch of Song of India and jatropha flowers in a milk pot; variegated dracaena branch and small anthurium flower in a ring-like container |
 | Left: Zeenath | Asparagus and dracaena leaves with a gerbera flower to emphasize the shape of the container, gypsophila flowers to add volume in a round basket container. Right: Sensei Prerana | Round red acrylic sheet, a sunflower, and a bunch of gypsophila in a circular-shaped container |
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It was a busy Friday morning (September 19th, 2025) for the Sogetsu Chennai branch, as they gathered together for their monthly workshop. The group of 13 members was all keyed up. The topic for the day was "The four Principles of Ikebana - fresh approach, movement, balance and harmony". It promised to be a creative and reflective session. DemoSenseis Dalley Verghese and Chitra Rajan were the presenters, and they kept the group enthralled with their compositions.
Sensei Dalley started the session with two presentations focusing on the theme of relationship in Ikebana.
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Sensei Dalley's one arrangement was striking in its weaving together of natural elements - azeleas and geranium stalks against the backdrop of calm waters, pebbles and open space in a plain white container (far left in picture).
The other arrangement depicted the harmonious relationship of elegant lines (far right in picture). The calla lily and canna leaves blended well with the antique stone container. The simplicity was stark and beautiful.
It was then time for Sensei Chitra Rajan's demo with two arrangements focusing on meditation.
Sensei Chitra brought a sense of peace and calm to her arrangements. Her first one focused on the meditative journey - from base passions rooted to the earth (aptly represented by red chrysanthemums and driftwood), to the contemplative stage of settling the mind (represented by a few red flowers intermingled with purple michaelmas daisies), to the final stage of bliss where focus is intense and thoughts are minimal (represented by white baby's breath).
The second arrangement used a single material - the lotus. The flowers standing tall and proud in water appeared to symbolize the beauty of self reliance and inner strength.
Riji Sensei Malathi Pandurang appreciated the demos and commented on how well the presenters had understood the theme of the day. The floor was then open for the members to practice and showcase their arrangements.
All in all, it was a wonderful morning of camaraderie, celebration of talent, and a harmonious coming together of art and creativity. Arrangements by members |
1. Sensei Chitra Thiagarajan: Tecoma flowers, canna leaves and building material tape in a red, ceramic vase 2. Sensei Meenu: Golden rods, caladium leaves and a dry vine in a ceramic container 3. Susan: Birds of paradise and crocosmia flowers, along with African princess branches in a ceramic vase 4. Luna: Painted dry coconut fronds and chrysanthemums in a hand-made container 5. Sensei Trishala: Sunflower and dried twigs in a ceramic container 6. Susan: Orange and brown chrysanthemums with dried twigs in a ceramic plate 7. Chelvi: Chrysanthemums, a bunch of dried heliconia stalks and cypress in a ceramic container
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It was that time of the month - the 3rd Saturday when the Chennai Sogetsu branch would meet to demo and practice their Ikebana skills. The theme for this month of August was "Showing Surface with Leaves". 14 members of the group gathered at the ABK Hall. The original demonstrators Senseis Meenu and Chitra T had personal emergencies; Senseis Pushkala and Prerana stepped in to ensure that the demonstration was conducted with no hitch. Demos by SenseisSensei Pushkala’s first composition was created purely with coconut fronds. She improvised a central structure with a banana stem and covered it with coconut fronds. Ingenious! Next she created circular structures, and fixed them all together with pins. She finished with artistic stars also created from coconut fronds - a joyous arrangement springing with life. To complement the arrangement, she chose a coconut leaf-based moribana container - dried and painted.
 | | Sensei Pushkala at work on her arrangement |
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 | | Arrangement with coconut fronds |
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Sensei Pushkala's second composition was with elephant vine (Argyreia nervosa), in a glass bowl, using the front and rear surfaces to create a graceful arrangement.
Sensei Pushkala - arrangement with elephant vine leaves
Over to Sensei Prerana, who was her spontaneous self, bringing her favourite banana leaf into play, and twisting it to give it drama and shape.
 | | Sensei Prerna - Banana leaf arrangement |
Members' Arrangements
 | Sensei Ambika: Crab claw leaves and brown
dracena in a grey boat-shaped fibre glass vase |
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 | Sensei Ambika: Teak leaves and dracena
in a red nagiere fibre glass vase |
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 | | Sensei Molly: Palmyra palm leaf, caladium, and Song of India branch in a metal container |
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 | | Sensei Trishala: Lily, yellow croton and dracena leaves in a metal container |
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 | Sensei Bhuvana: Dracena and dieffenbachia
leaves with chrysanthemums in a ceramic container |
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 | | Sensei Chitra R: Philodendron leaves and statis flowers in a fiber glass vase |
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 | | Chelvi: Bird of paradise and philodendron leaves with daises in a ceramic vase |
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 | Gnanambikai: Spider lily and yellow shampoo ginger leaves in a fiber plastic container
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 | Zeenath: Banana leaves, canna leaves & pods,
and lily leaves in a ceramic container |
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 | Mohan: Caladium leaves and dracena stem
in a moribana container |
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 | Christine: Dieffenbachia leaves and carnations
in a ceramic moribana vase |
Grand Finale
The delightful morning ended with lunch hosted by Senseis Prerana and Trishala to celebrate their personal milestones. It was indeed fellowship through flowers, or should we say, leaves, in keeping with the theme of the day. More Recent Articles
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