Flower Gifting In India

“Flowers are like little kisses sent from God to humanity.” ~ Anonymous

For millennia flowers have acted as gifts and presents for people, the world over. Fewer countries in the world can boast of a culture that is as ancient, and as diversified as India. For nearly 4000 years, India, has been a symbol of tolerance and brotherhood, punctuated with the use of flowers in festivities, solemnities and occasions of national, social and personal importance. Gifting flowers in India can sometimes be a tricky affair, because of the diverse social, religious and symbolic meanings ascribed to various species of flora. Well! Here’s a comprehensive guide to mastering the art of flower gifting in India.

1. The Indian national flower is designated as the Lotus, and has special significance to the Hindu religion, where it signifies glory stemming from humility
2. The Marigold flower native to India, is used in almost all rituals, from celebrating festivals, to even funeral processions.

Popular Flowers And Their Meanings

• The Red Rose, is king of gifting flowers, especially since it signifies undying love and passion.
• Carnations on their own symbolize purity, platonic love and friendship.
• Gerberas in myriad hues are seen as flowers of hope, love, passion, contentment and commitment.
• Hydrangeas stand for grace and beauty and make an amazing accompaniment to Roses on account to their relatively tiny size and beautiful polish color.
• Lilies stand for grace, purity and peace.
• The common symbol of grace, beauty and new beginnings is the Daisy.
• The Sunflower is a powerful symbol of friendship, admiration and strength.

Popular Flower Gifting Days In India

India is one of the world’s most assimilated cultures. With people of hundreds of languages, religions, creeds and ethnic groups living in harmony; almost every day is a festival. Flowers therefore play an important role in these festivals. Both as items of ritual and gifting, flowers and floral arrangement are highly sought after. Thinking of gifting someone you love in India a floral tribute, for a special occasion? Don’t sweat it. Here is a comprehensive list of the most important flower gifting days in India, with our notes on the appropriate flowers by occasion.

Valentine’s Day

The planning for Valentine’s Day (14th Feb) starts weeks in advance in India. Boyfriends and husbands go absolutely mad, looking for unique gifts to impress their girlfriends and significant others. Well of course flowers play an extremely important role in the celebrations and as such are a staple for this occasion. When in India, you cannot go wrong with the Red Rose on this day. Want a break from tradition, how about a dozen long stemmed Pink Roses? A lovely bouquet featuring Roses, Lily, Carnations and Daisies, will show your true feelings to the woman of your dreams. Add a plush toy like a Teddy Bear and a box of Ferrero Rocher and you will have the most perfect expression of love and passion in existence.

1. Roses are in serious demand in and around Valentine’s Day. Reserving your bouquet in advance therefore makes a lot of sense in order to avoid disappointment.

Women’s Day

Where Valentine’s Day celebrates romantic love, Women’s Day in India is all about celebrating the myriad roles a woman, be it a wife, mother, sister, aunt or coworker. Celebrated on the 8th of March, Women’s Day sees a whole host of flowers presented and received. Depending on your relation to the lady in question, a wide variety of floral gifting options are available. For a wife/lover, look no further than a bouquet of Red, Pink and White Roses. If it is your mother or sister you want to show how much you care Yellow Roses are the go to flower, else a mixed bag of Roses, Gerberas, Carnations and Lilies would do the trick. For friends and coworkers add a Daisy component (replacing the Lilies in the aforementioned bouquet) and you’re sorted.

1. Adding a box of Chocolates or a Chocolate Cake to your floral arrangement elevates it to an even more thoughtful, comprehensive gift.

Mother’s Day

The role of the mother in Indian life has been celebrated in the epics. In modern times, Mother’s Day takes off where the traditional celebrations left off. Celebrated on the third Sunday in May, flowers along with elaborate gifts and edible offerings play an important role in making the day special. Some of the most important flowers for Mother’s Day include Roses (all colors), Gerberas, Lilies, Carnations, Daisies and others. Really want to show your mother how much you appreciate her? Well look no further than adding a Sweet Memories Box of Chocolates, or a Black Forest Chocolate Cake to her floral arrangement.

1. Adding a thoughtful card with a handwritten note such as: “For all the times you put my needs above yours; this is a small token of my love and gratitude” will add a loving touch to the gift as a whole.

Father’s Day

The role of a father in the life of an individual is often a silent, in-the-background kind. Father’s Day seeks to raise the patriarch out of his relative obscurity and acknowledge his various contributions to the family and to the individual. In India, Father’s Day celebrated in the month of June sees, families coming together to treat the patriarch to a day that’s all about him. Looking for flowers for the most important man in your life? You can’t miss a trick with a dozen long stemmed Red Roses. Adding a riot of color to the proceedings are Lilies, Gerberas, Carnations, Sunflowers, Daisies and others.

1. Fathers love practical, pragmatic gifts that they can use. Offer your dad a bouquet, but make sure you team it up with something like stationery, or a fountain pen, a perfume or a gift voucher to make it complete

Christmas

Christmas in India, as with most festivals is celebrated by one and all. It is a time of celebration and coming together with the family. The weather in temperate India at this time is pleasant, and a wide variety flowers are available for use both as gifts and for decorative purposes. Think Roses, Lilies, Hydrangeas, Carnations, Gerberas and Daisies, in order to really bring a smile to the faces of your loved ones, and even brighten up the home in the bargain.

1. Christmas is a very popular festival and looking to book your floral arrangement in advance will save money and ensure that you actually get the arrangement of your choice

Choosing The Right Flowers For Different Occasions?

In the previous section we took a peek at the various communal celebrations and the popular flowers for gifting and decor. But like anywhere else in the world; birthdays, weddings and funerals are also important celebrations and solemnities, that mandate floral arrangements, bouquets and tributes. Helping you navigate the tricky waters of floral gifting in India, for personal milestones, is what this next section is all about.

Birthdays

Birthdays are a big deal in India, and you will most often want to gift your friends, family and lovers with the very best on their special day. That being said, here are a few things that will help you make the right decisions, for the apt floral gift for them according to this occasion.

The flowers to go with: Depending on your relation to the person celebrating their birthday, Roses (for intimate relations like a girlfriend, father or mother) make perfect sense. Depending on your equation with friends, you may want to look at Tulips, Gerberas, Carnations, Daisies or Lilies.

Combinations: Again depending on the age, preferences and tastes of the person, a wide variety of gifts from chocolates, to perfumes and everything in between may be proffered.

Birthday Greetings: No gift is ever complete without a greeting card, for birthdays, it is best to hand write a greeting; something to the effect of: “On your special day, I wish you nothing but the best. The best of love, the best of life’s treasures, the best of health, wealth and happiness. Happy Birthday”.

1. A hand tied floral arrangement is an artisanal take on the traditional bouquet
2. Always research the meaning of various flowers before including them in your arrangement, so as to avoid misunderstandings or embarrassment.

Weddings

The Big Fat Indian Wedding is a riot of color, ceremony and togetherness. Flowers play a huge role in both gifting and the decor aspect of the event. When offering flowers as a gift, it would bode well to remember the following.

Choosing congratulatory flowers: Red Roses are symbols of love and as such are an excellent gift for the occasion. Adding Lilies, Gerberas, Chrysanthemums, Sunflowers, Daisies and Carnations also elevates the look and aesthetic value of your floral arrangement.

Combinations: In India, ‘Shagun’ in the form of cash gifts in ornate envelopes are a traditional way of gifting. Looking for a break from tradition, gift vouchers redeemable on vacations (depending on your budget), or to popular e-commerce stores are also a good option.

Wedding Greetings: A congratulatory note is a classy way of completing the gifting loop. A handwritten note to express your sentiments is the best way to go. Use a simple but stylish card and greeting to the effect of: “Thank you for making us a part of your celebrations, we wish you all the love and luck now that you’re embarking on a lifelong journey with each other. Congratulations on your wedding”.

Tips:

• Flowers symbolizing love like Roses and Lilies are indispensable to a wedding bouquet
• S-shaped arrangements or a high vertical arrangement is the way to go.

Funerals

Funerals in India are a time to express condolence for the loss of the bereaved family. Last respects in India are generally expressed in the form of floral tributes. They offer a sense of peace and a show of solidarity with the deceased’s family.

Choosing flowers to offer condolence: White flowers are the general standard at funerals as they signify purity and express hope along with sadness. So White Lilies, Roses, Daisies and even Chrysanthemums are an appropriate token of condolence and solidarity.

Condolence Message: While written condolence messages are not common, they can be offered as a show of understanding, support and solidarity with the grieving family. The message could be something to the effect of: “In life he/she was a dear friend and someone we looked up to. We will miss him always, and we stand with you in your moment of grief. Our sincere sympathy to you and your family.

1. Wreaths and sprays are the preferred style of bouquet as they can be placed directly on the coffin or grave,
2. While white flowers are the standard at a funeral. A loving tribute to the deceased would definitely be a bouquet or wreath of their favorite flowers.

Where Do Flowers In India Come From?

India, with its several important festivals, is one of the world’s most active markets for flowers. While it does have a rather robust horticulture industry, demand for exotic flowers will always see a raise. India imports from all around the world. Roses from Central and South America, Tulips, Lilies, Gerberas and Daisies from EU countries including The Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Spain and France. The Asiatic Lily, Chrysanthemums and other seasonal flowers from Japan, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand are among the most sought after flowers in the Indian subcontinent.

Top Tips To Consider When Buying Flowers For Gifting

1. Local flowers are best: Local flowers are used to the climate, have a certain significance to the populace and hold their shape and freshness longer.
2. Researching the meaning of flowers: In one culture the Lily may be considered a mourning flower, whereas in another, the romantic aspect of the same flower may hold more importance. Depending on the culture, it is important to research the meanings of the flowers before considering gifting them, in order to avoid inadvertent disrespect or embarrassment.
3. Checking the overall state of the flowers: If and when possible always check the overall state of the flowers before incorporating them into your bouquet. Even the slightest of blemishes can aesthetically damage the appearance of the arrangement. Flowers with blemishes often spoil early and can be perceived as sloppy, or disrespectful.
4. Check the credentials of the florist/flower delivery service: Every online florist/flower delivery service is generally rated by previous users. Take the time to view the testimonials section, or visit online review sites like Yelp that will feature user reviews. Make an informed decision, in order to get the best possible quality.

How To Care For Flowers Received As Gifts?

1. Choose a clear vase in order to properly display flowers
2. Add a good amount of water to the vase
3. Cut the stems regularly to keep them fresher, longer
4. Keep flowers in a cool, dry area, away from heat emitting appliances
5. Change the water in the vase daily or whenever possible
6. Follow the care instruction that come with the bouquet
7. Add a little sugar or lemon juice to the water in the vase, to reduce the acidity of the water and provide the cut flowers with some nutrition.

Conclusion

As people, Indians are a warm and a hospitable bunch. Flowers play an important role in ceremonies, festivals and solemnities in India and gifting flowers will earn you the love and gratitude of the people. Finding the right flowers for the right occasion is only a matter of knowing where to look and a little reading about the meaning of the flowers in question. With this guide, you can gift flowers like a seasoned pro. So what are you waiting for? Gift away!