The Pushpa Bitan Friendship Society was founded in the late 70s by four floral artists representing different flower schools. The founder members rightfully perceived that the art of flower arrangement primarily varied in presentation and floristry skills due to the imagination of the florist. Very soon, like-minded floral art lovers converged to become members of the Pushpa Bitan Friendship Society to actively hone and promote their hobby and interest in flowers. The Pushpa Bitan Friendship Society actively promotes the art of flower arrangement and floral design through workshops, seminar and flower shows. It conducts classes and organizes demonstrations of various floral art forms – for eg. Bonsai, Spice Tray Displays, Vegetable carving and flower arrangement. These classes and demonstrations are conducted by renowned experts in their respective fields, who share their expertise and special skills with members in India. Excursions to places of botanical interest are also organized for members by the Society. The Society’s maiden exhibition was held in 1982 in the Ashutosh Memorial Hall of the Indian Museum in Kolkata. The Society has been instrumental in introducing Foliage Arrangement in India’s Foliage Show of the Agri – Horticultural Society. Since then, the Society has been participating in flower shows in India, such as the Flore Culture in Delhi, the annual flower show of the Agri – Horticulture in Kolkata and flower show in Gangtok. In 2012, The Society conducted a flower show named “Flore Couture.”
Over the years, the non – profit organization has blossomed into a conspicuous, well – loved and respected society, traversing national borders to become renowned globally. In the year 2005, during her visit to India, Lady Julia Clements, impressed by the activities of Pushpa Bitan, invited the Society to visit the United Kingdom and put up an exhibition where the Society was nominated as a member of NAFAS (National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies, United Kingdom). The Society represented India at the centenary celebrations of the Westminster Cathedral, where it had designed an area with the symbol of AUM. It was a show stopper! Presently, the members of Pushpa Bitan Friendship Society are actively competing in the Chelsea Flower Show regularly. The Society had been invited to address the assembly of the NAFAS Show in South Africa where again, the Society was nominated as member. The Society had participated in the WAFA Show, Flora Australia (world flower show) in 2009. In 2011, the members had participated in the WAFA Shows in Glasgow, Japan and Boston. Besides these, the Society also took part in Flora Astralis by contingent plants.In the year 2014, members are taking part in the WAFA shoow in Dublin, Ireland. In 2017 the WAFA show will be hosted by barbados and in the year 2020 india will be the host country.
