KARACHI: The timeless charm of the bonsai has for many years now left the confines of traditional Japanese society and become more universal in its appeal. This was best exemplified by the efforts of the Pakistan Bonsai Society that organised the 16th bonsai exhibition at the Zamzama Park on Thursday.

The exhibition was inaugurated by the Consul General of Japan, Akira Ouchi, who spoke about the aesthetics of growing a bonsai. “Bonsai is the art in which a person creates not only by unique techniques, but with profound observation and insight for nature,” he said.

Dedicated Bonsai hobbyists proudly showcased their artistically shaped miniature trees specially grown in containers. The wrinkles and crookedness of the growth is designed and shaped in an aesthetically pleasing way and is testament to how nature can thrive despite facing obstacles in her way.

There were a total of 120 bonsai trees exhibited with varying ages; the youngest bonsai tree was five years old and the oldest almost 50 years.

With a rich history of more than 800 years in Japan, the bonsai requires painstaking efforts to sustain and grow, and many a times the efforts can be in vain. According to most growers, consistency is required and one must not be deterred by this reproduction of natural tree forms in miniature, as it is a highly rewarding experience.

Aslam Sulaiman, one of the many bonsai enthusiasts whose collection was part of the exhibition, proudly shared his experience of almost 14 years. “Bonsai trees require the same amount of care that other plants do, however, what a grower needs to be careful of is the proportion between the foliage and the roots. And this can only be done through practice.”

One of the most popular bonsai trees at the exhibition was the ficus retusa tree, aged 45 years. This tree type is considered as one of the most popular and trouble-free bonsai trees for indoor growth. It has a beautiful, overarching green spread and the leaves glistened in the early hours of the balmy evening.

The bonsai has been credited for being symbolic of peace and harmony and has recently surfaced in international news after a centuries-old bonsai was discovered that had survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945.

Pakistan Bonsai Society President Khawaja Mohammad Mazhar shared the vision of the organisation and how it had grown from humble beginnings to encompass many more bonsai lovers around the country.

The exhibition is open to public till Aug 16.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2015

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