Beautifully arranged flowers were the cynosure of all eyes at the School of Hotel Management, SOA’s faculty of hospitality and tourism management here, as the institute organised a workshop on ‘Art of Flower Arrangement’ on Saturday.

“The presence of vibrant flowers can trigger happy emotions and can instantly affect our mood. Flowers can heighten the happiness in our lives, beautify our surroundings and infuse a sense of serenity around us,” Dr. Sapan Kumar Sadhual, Dean in-charge of the institute said while addressing the participants.

Focussing on the importance of flowers in Indian culture, Dr. Sadhual said flowers represented the country’s unity in diversity.

Prof. Smita Sucharita Mahapatra, Head of department, Rooms Division, said flower arrangements had the ability to induce a personal touch in an otherwise impersonal hotel room or lobby. Guests appreciated flowers for the freshness they infused into the surroundings, she said adding arrangements could be composed only with flowers or with the addition of foliage, fruits and vegetables.

Mr. Tarun Gour, a florist from ‘Ferns and Petals’ who was the resource person, spoke about the various tools used in flower arrangement and demonstrated more than ten different types of such arrangements including Triangular flower arrangement, Basket flower arrangement, Ikebana, Vase arrangement, Bud Vase display, Crescent arrangement and Cascade arrangement.

Besides students of SHM, those from city-based BITTM Institute of Hotel Management and Vivekananda Institute of Hotel Management also attended the workshop. Mr. Pitambar Biswal, Principal of Vivekananda Institute of Hotel Management and faculty members of IHM were also present. Dr. Susanta Ranjan Chaini, Professor of SHM, proposed the vote of thanks.