Florist excels at Onatsavam 2007

For Malayalees, celebrating Onam is a special event, but for the Malayalee diaspora, this was doubly special, for it is the one link that binds them to their motherland. No wonder the two-day Onatsavan 2007, organized on this weekend by Kalavedi, a cultural association of the Malayalee diaspora at Kalabhavan, off Marathahalli Ring Road, saw a packed house with a smattering of glamorous stars gracing the event. Director Priyadarshan who has given us many hits in Bollywood was the star attraction, along with actors Harisri Ashokan, Mythilly Vasudevan. The chairman of Kristal Group, the organizers, chaired the meet.

While the actors lent their glamour, it was designer florist, Gandhimathi Ravi who stole the show with her exquisite floral arrangements. The designer is much sought after by organizations such as YMCA, ECA, Lions Club, etc during Onam festivals for designing her famous circular floral designs called athapoovu and pookalams. Gandhimathi has won many prizes at Lalbagh flower shows, and her Tanjore painting collections also adorn several corporate offices and bungalows in the city. A Montessori teacher by profession, she took to flower decorations in a serious way and today is a well known full time floral designer, and runs a popular boutique called Fragrance in Indiranagar I State (12th Cross). So next time you want to stop by to smell the flowers, you know where to go. Catch the Fragrance on your way back. Mrs Gandhimathi Ravi also conducts painting classes and can be contacted on 56980117, 25214178, 9448084178.