I am very excited to share this post by Laxmi Lobo,
a talented fellow florist in Mumbai. I'm sure you'll enjoy learning about her Indian culture and the importance of flowers during their many festivals.
The floral pieces featured are breathtaking.
I'm inspired by their beauty and I hope you are too....
India is a land of festivals and more festivals. We have a special occasion virtually every week and hence a reason for the women to adorn themselves with all kinds of jewelry, flower jewelry being quite significant.
Diwali is the most important festival of the Hindus and hence has a pan India appeal.
Spiritually Diwali signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair.
Diwali is the time when Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity visits the homes, this is the time when every home is lit with oil lamps and women are dressed in silks and jewelry to welcome the Goddess. It is said that the more brightly lit the home, and more beautifully adorned, the women, Goddess Lakshmi will surely visit this home and bring it more wealth.
In Hinduism, austerity is as revered as the show of wealth.
Wealth here signifies not only material wealth but also joy and family ties which are also considered “shaan” or wealth. This is particularly important at Diwali when families get together to meet and celebrate in various festivities over five days.
Traditionally, flowers play a very important role in all Hindu celebrations.
Flowers have always been used to adorn the self and our Goddesses. Women wear flowers in their hair everyday, adding a natural delicate perfume too.
Even today in the busy metropolis like Mumbai and Chennai or Bangalore, there will be many “gajra” or “veni” sellers at every main street corner selling these little adornments of flower jewelry for women to wear. Romance in India is giving a “gajra” to your beloved more than the red rose of the west.
Pic courtesy Akshay |
A “ Gajra” is a hand woven soft flower garland, almost like a scarf, that one wears with any Hairstyle.
The “Veni” was the more formal floral jewelry that adorns brides, especially during Diwali.
Diwali in particular has a huge significance for flower jewelry.
Over the years wearing flowers has evolved into floral jewelry and has a high fashion quotient.
These are worn on any formal occasion and Diwali being a “dressing up” occasion, many floral designers are busy making floral jewelry.
Roses, with their delicate fragrance and gorgeous colour are on top of my list as a floral designer for making stunning pieces of floral jewelry.
Many times floral designers will evolve these designs using beads and other embellishments making them contemporary and unusual. Here are Cymbidium Orchids used with faux Pearls.
I also love to scour our flower markets for innovative colour combinations, using crispidiums and hypercium berries for the beaded effect.
There are simply endless possibilities with floral jewelry and Indian women being very fond of jewelry have been wearing flowers as part of their special wardrobe for centuries.
Making a flower necklace, wristlet or just weaving some flowers together is very easy.
One can string larger flowers like roses and carnations with a needle and thread, add some colourful beads and handmade pendants or leather patches, it is really about your imagination.
Author Bio –
Laxmi Lobo is a Singapore trained floral designer. She is now a retail florist in Mumbai and specialises in flower delivery in Mumbai. Her online bouquet delivery in Mumbai has won accolades from the press and has interviewed on TV for CNBC & ET NOW. Visit Spring Blossoms to know more about Flower Delivery In Mumbai.