DOWNTOWNPLUS: Ohana – Blooming flowers of charity: January 08, 2009

A women’s organisation, Ohana Concept, raises over 4 lakh for charity through simple flower arrangements. Poulomi Chakravarty gets you the colourful details ………Poulomi Chakravarty 

If you thought Ikebana — a Japanese art of flower arrangement was just another art form. Think again. Ohana Concept: The Friendly Flower Group, an organisation of women, doing charitable work through the medium of flowers.

“In a commercial city like Mumbai, where one has to struggle to see the beauty of nature, Ikebana brings out some of the most beautiful aspects of nature with flowers, stems, leaves all in its natural form although they are crafted and arranged,” explains 72-year-old Hena Rahimtula, president, Ohana Concept. This Peddar Road resident sure is an inspiration, her dedication towards charity hasn’t withered even after her leg amputation due to severe diabetes.

Rahimtula learned the art of Ikebana around 50 years ago in Japan and has been using this art to help the needy since the past 20 years. “Ohana Concept works on a very simple ideology — we teach Ikebana to all our members, hold a major exhibition every two years and collect funds from all over the city. Our creations are not sold and there is no competition, it’s a free exhibition and everyone’s welcome,” adds Rahimtula.

Ohana Concept was founded in 1987 and they have held seven exhibitions so far. “We are all geared up for our eighth exhibition and this year, we have managed to arrange a hefty amount of four and half lakh rupees. The proceeds of this exhibition will be donated to the Orphan Mentally Challenged Girls Care Home (Ashram), New Panvel and Daya Sagar English High School, Malwani, Malad,” adds Rahimtula.

When questioned about the how the organisation manages to collect funds, Rahimtulla explains, “Just before the exhibition all the members approach all their relatives, friend and corporates to gather the funds. We have been following this pattern for the last 18 years and have managed to donate almost Rs 25 lakh to deserving organisations.”

The exhibition will be held at the Ravindra Natya Mandir, Prabhadevi, from January 9-11.

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