Tips for Sending Flowers To Your Man

Ladies are no longer the only ones whom love receiving flowers. 70% of men surveyed by the Society of India Florists admitted that they would like to receive flowers on Valentines Day. Now, before you ring up an order of 99 red roses, follow this guide to choose a floral arrangement that even Mars the God of War would approve:

• Occasions 
  Think back to the times when you would love to receive flowers: on your birthday, on special anniversaries, during down times, after a job promotion there you have it.

• Colours 
  There are no hard and fast rules about what colors are appropriate for each gender but unless you are absolutely very sure that he is perfectly fine with pink and purple (even if he is absolutely secure about his masculinity, it is probably wise to add in several masculine-colored blooms), stray away from effeminate colors like pastels, pinks and purples. There is no need to settle for the fail-safe blue, though. Choose, instead, flowers in strong, vivid and monochromatic hues like bright yellow, intense orange, fiery red and royal gold.

• Types of flowers 
  Like women, just about any kind of flowers roses, tulips, lilies, sunflowers, orchids etc are bound to touch even an alpha male. But the kinds that really appeal to them are flowers that are sturdy and full of personality like the angular birds of paradise, anthuriums or orchids.

• Floral Arrangement 
  Skip the fluffy big bouquets and head straight for the exotic, tropical or contemporary arrangements in linear or angular compositions. If this is your first time giving your man flowers, you can play it safe with a flower/plant dish that he can place on his desk at work or on his coffee table.

• Personal Touches 
  Incorporating his hobbies and interests into his floral gift will definitely earn you brownie points. If your man is into automotive, add in a car magazine. If he is a soccer fan, choose flowers in his team's colors. If he is a game freak, insert a few video games that he had been hinting at. You get the idea.

How Do I Make My Dozen Roses Look Right ?

When I first started to design flowers I often heard how designers had difficulty making a dozen roses look nice. That it was hard to keep the roses in place. But it is really very easy to do if you know a few simple basics.

1. First prepare the rose by taking off the bottom half of the leaves and popping off the thorns. Most people prefer the thorns off but as much as possible I leave the thorns on. This is because taking them off can leave open wounds and may allow microbial bacteria to enter and shorten the life of the flower.
   
2. Cut the rose stem slantwise under water (so they don't get an air pocket that prevents them from drinking) and place in small bucket or vase that has warm water and flower food.
   
3. Make sure you have the right size vase. Too small and you'll have them all standing up straight and it will look funny. Too big and you'll have way too much space to fill in. This may sound like common sense but believe me; all beginning designers have made this mistake.

There are two ways that I have found to be the best: 

a) Fill a vase with water of the way full. Take your greens (usually leather leaf) and start putting them in the vase starting from the outside all around and moving inward. The greens should be crisscrossing themselves. This gives a good stiff base for the roses to be able to stand without flopping.

Or: 

b) Take a dry vase and clear floral tape. You can get this at a craft store and it is very sticky and water proof. Use this tape at the top of the vase by making a grid. You should leave enough room to allow the stem and greens to pass through. Fill the vase with water and flower food and start putting your greens in, same as before, start inserting from outside towards the inside stems crossing each other. The advantage to using the grid is you can use fewer greens. Now you are ready to place the roses in. 

In most floral designing you design from the outside inward. But for roses I prefer the opposite. I start with what I call the anchor rose. I take my longest stem and stick it right in the middle. If you have done your greening correctly, is should stand straight up. Place the next 4 roses in around the first rose but slightly shorter. Continue in this fashion until all roses have been placed. Now stand back and look at it to see if you need to make any adjustments. Then place in the filler of your choice such as baby's breath. Finish with a bow and enjoy your creation. 

There are many ways to place the roses but remember, keep it simple. Don't make it complicated. 

The Story Behind Raksha Bandhan - Floral India

Raksha Bandhan, meaning "Knot of Protection" is one of the most important festivals celebrated by Hindus throughout the world. The festival stands for the beautiful relationship shared between brothers and sisters. A lifelong promise of protection is made on this special occasion. It exhibits the beautiful relationship of love, care and affection between siblings.

History
Raksha Bandhan, also called Rakhi Purnima or just Rakhi, has deep rooted historical significance. There are various stories linked with the past mythology of the hindu religion. People believe and follow different stories from the past. The most famous and relied upon story of them all is that of Rani Karnavati of Chittor and the Mughal Emperor Humayun. Rani Karnawati was the widowed queen of Chittor, which had been attacked by Bahadur Shah, Sultan of Gujarat. The queen realized that defending her empire from the invasion was not possible for her and in lieu of protection and help, she sent a Rakhi to the Mughal Emperor, Humayun. On receiving the rakhi, the Emperor was overwhelmed and became emotional. He, along with his troops, immediately set out to protect Chittor from the invasion. Alas, he could not reach on time. The Sultan of Gujarat had, by then, reached the queen`s fortress. All the women, in the fortress including Rani Karnawati had performed Jauhar (mass suicide) by then. Humayun, on reaching the fortress, fought with Bahadur Shah and evicted him from the land. The empire was handed over to Rani Karnawati`s son, Vikramjeet Singh. Since then, the act of a sister tying a rakhi on the wrist of her brother indicates lifelong protection from him.

Significance
Raksha Bandhan is a beautiful Hindu festival where sisters dress up beautifully in order to celebrate this special occasion with their brothers. Sisters also pray for a prosperous future and a long life for their brothers. Rakhi holds great emotional and religious significance. The festival keeps the deep rooted culture of the country alive, strengthens the relationship of siblings and ensures togetherness.

Celebrations
The festival of Raksha Bandhan, brings the entire family together. The day starts with everyone dressing up beautifully in traditional attires. Sweets, chocolates and other regional specialties are brought. The sister ties a rakhi on her brother`s wrist and performs aarti, praying for his well-being and then sweetens his mouth with a delicacy. Brothers in return give gifts to their sisters to express their love.

Perfect gifts for brothers and sisters
Nowadays, Raksha Bandhan is celebrated with exchange of gifts unlike the old days when money was handed over to the sister as a token of love. Here are some amazing ideas of gifts you can surprise your brother and sister with, on Rakhi.

Gifts for Brothers:

Watch: 

Very much in fashion; since the occasion is rakhi, what could be better than a watch for your brother`s wrist?

Gadget:Since guys are quite tech savvy, a gadget, maybe a new phone, MP3, tab, etc. will be a great option. It`ll surely bring a smile to your brother`s face.

 Perfumes: Men and women both are equally crazy about perfumes. So, a nice perfume is also a great option this rakhi.

Chocolates: chocolates are liked by people of all age groups, so whether your brother is young or old, chocolates will remain an all-time favorite.

Gifts for Sisters

Jewellery: A girl`s best friend! Jewellery is one of the most loved things by any girl. Go for it, without a second thought.

 Bag: Bags are again a great option. Girls go gaga over handbags, so getting your sister a bag will definitely fetch you a smile.

 Vouchers: Girls, being shopaholics, will love a gift/discount voucher from which they can shop as they desire.

 These are just a few ideas to ease your search. The value of any gift is seen by the intention with which it is given, so no matter what you get, your brother or sister will love you anyway. AstroYogi.com wishes all a happy and memorable Raksha Bandhan!

Rakhi: The thread that binds, protects

Greetings of the day to one and all! Let’s observe the words closely before proceeding further. ‘Raksha’ means to protect, ‘Bandhan’ means bond. So it is a bond between a brother and his sister where the brother vows to take care of his sister(s) come what may. India as we know has a rich cultural heritage. Raksha Bandhan is one of the most joyous festivals celebrated all over India as a mark of respect for the brother-sister relationship. The day begins with puja and the sister ties a rakhi, a colourful thread, on the wrist of her brother and blesses him with long life and happiness. In turn the brother blesses the sister and vows to take care of her throughout her life, which amazingly stretches beyond her marriage too. The thread draws a connection through and through and ties the siblings in infinite love that knows no boundaries. It is a strange phenomenon where a sister takes for granted that she will have a protected life in the presence of her brother. And surprisingly, the brother too takes it on himself to be responsible for his sister and her doings

A sibling may be the keeper of one’s identity, the only person with the keys to one’s unfettered, more fundamental self. Traditionally, Raksha Bandhan is a festival to celebrate the brother-sister relationship. But according to history, the significance of rakhi is not limited to only brothers and sisters. It served as a bond of protection and could be tied by wife, mother or daughter. Rishis also used to tie rakhi to people who came for their blessings. Some people also used to tie rakhi to their neighbours and friends to have a peaceful relationship. Rabindranath Tagore was the first person who popularised the Rakhi Utsav and promoted feeling of commitment and unity. So, Raksha Bandhan is a day to reaffirm faith in all forms of protection and is a destroyer of all sins. On this day, brothers and sisters try to visit each other personally and show their love towards each other. The day highlights the importance of siblings. The whole essence of celebrating the festival is to inculcate the importance of love and affection between brothers and sisters.

I am proud to be an Indian where the concept of joint family system is prevalent till date. The love showered on children by brothers/sisters/parents/grandparents is amazing and I have always felt very secure amidst my family. I strongly believe that they will stand by me through thick and thin and I know my brother will remain my guardian angel throughout my life. God bless all brothers!! Happy Raksha Bandhan to one and all. May this thread of love grow stronger each day.

Raksha Bandhan: The Bond of Love

Celebrated on the full moon day in the Hindu calendar month of Sharavan, Raksha Bandhan is one of the most widely celebrated festivals of India.

It is a day that symbolises the sacred relationship between a brother and sister. Literally translated, raksha means protection while bandhan means bond. Raksha Bandhan, therefore, signifies the bond of love out which comes a sense of security and protection.

On Raksha Bandhan, the sister ties a rakhi, comprising sacred threads, on her brother's wrist and performs an aarati . In return, the brother gives her a gift. The ritual is meant to signify their love and that both are looking out for each other. Today, the festival goes much beyond real brothers and sisters to any two individuals who enjoy a deep relationship. So you are likely to see a woman tie a rakhi to her cousins, neighbours and close friends.

Raksha Bandhan also has a great history. Various stories have been passed on indicating the origin of Raksha Bandhan. One of them draws its origin from the Mahabharata epic. Once, Lord Krishna hurt his hand while fighting Shishupala, a man who had committed several heinous acts. When this happened, Draupadi, the wife of the Pandava brothers, rushed to cover the wound by tearing a piece of her sari and tying it around Lord Krishna's hand. In return for her kind gesture, the Lord asked what she would like. Draupadi replied by saying she only desired His Divine presence at every moment of her life. From that moment on, Lord Krishna told Draupadi that He would be with her whenever she called out for Him. Much later, when the Kauravas tried to disrobe her in their court, helpless, she called out to Lord Krishna to save her. And in return, the Lord gave her a sari that was infinitely long. As a result, the Kauravas were unable to disrobe her and Draupadi was saved from being dishonored.

While the festival typically celebrates the relationship between brother and sister, it has a much deeper spiritual significance. When we take one step on the spiritual path, the Lord takes ninety-nine steps, as it were. This is the symbolism of Lord Krishna giving Draupadi an infinitely long sari in return for a protecting his wound with a small piece of cloth. At the absolute level, it is only when we give up our pathetic, finite egos that we are able to experience the joy of the Infinite.

Those who have embarked on the magical journey towards the Spirit experience not just and happiness and success but also an unmistakable sense of peace that the world cannot disturb. Thus Raksha Bandhan, like all other Indian festivals, is a call to the Divine Self within. So let us pledge, on this day, to commit ourselves to dedicating our actions to our goal of self-betterment, harbouring finer emotions and developing the clarity to see the permanence in and through the transience of the world

Changing Ways of Sending Rakhi

Traditional ways of Sending Rakhi

Some few years back, usually brothers & sisters used to stay in same city & used to celebrate rakhi together, because most people don't used to leave their home town for job n all.

But in recent scenario many people are moving in different cities or in different countries for jobs.

At that time, if brothers & sisters were not leaving in the same city, then sister used to send rakhi by following ways:

• Through Post
• Through Courier

For that prepare at least one week to 10 days ago.

• Go to the market
• Stand in a line (markets are full of rush at the time of festive occasions)
• Choose the Products you want from different shops (such as: Rakhi, Roli, Akshat, Gifts, Sweets, Dry Fruits, Chocolates, Packaging Material etc.)
• Then pack it all
• Go to the courier office
• Parcel it

Modern ways of Sending Rakhi

In the world of modern technique and one click work done it's yet not as hard as in past. Some simple steps to perform and that's it.

• Go to the Website www.floralindia.com
• Click the products you like
• Fill the required information
• Pay online

Rakhi Significance

The Traditional & Modern Ways:

Raksha Bandhan in Sanskrit literally means "the tie or knot of protection". The festival is also an occasion to celebrate brother-sister like family ties between cousins or distant family members, sometimes between biologically unrelated men and women. To many, the festival transcends biological family, brings together men and women across religions, diverse ethnic groups and ritually emphasizes harmony and love. It is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Shravan,  and typically falls in August every year.

Previously, Rakhi festival encompasses the warmth shared between the siblings but now it goes way beyond it. Some people tie Rakhi to neighbors and close friends. Rakhi Utsav was first popularized by Rabindranath Tagore to promote the feeling of unity and a commitment to all members of society to protect each other and encourage a harmonious Social life.

In today's scenario, the day has a different perspective. The occasion involves a pledge of life-time practice of moral, cultural and spiritual values. The festival of Raksha Bandhan assumes all forms of Raksha or protection, of righteousness and destroyer of all sin. The ritual of Rakhi tying has become so important that come what may, brothers and sisters try to visit each other place on this particular day in order to bring back the oneness of the family, binding the family together in an emotional bond of love.