Hibiscus / Shoe-Flower / Laal Joba for Ganesha - and its significance

As a kid, I always wanted to seize the laal joba or red shoe-flower offered to Ganesha during Ganesh Chaturthi, or was fascinated by the same flower offered to Kali Maa during Kali Puja in Bengal. Never cared to know why this particular flower is being offered to the two powerful Hindu deities, until my mother narrated the story one day -

"My child, the red color of the flower is a personal favorite of Lord Ganesha and Devi Kali.

The 5 petals of the Hibiscus denote the warding of negative energy and the welcome of the positive energy into the Universe from the "panchamahabhutas" or 5 basic elements (akaash, jal, vayu, agni, dharti). On a more practical level, it is the seasonal flower of the Bhadrapad month of the monsoons, hence our ancients have advocated this particular flower. Especially the color red is highly auspicious."

And with an echo of this message, I have planted a laal joba to offer Ganpati Bappa and also to devot at Matri-Charan (Goddess Kali's Feet) at my desi home in Australia -

And thus, the beliefs, were carried along ~

• We should pluck flowers fresh only after taking bath
  
• We should not pick the ones (flowers/leaves) fallen on the ground (except Paarijat).
• We never offer Nirmalya (reused flowers), flowers that have already been offered by others. 
• We must not throw/fling flowers on the idol. Always offer them with both your open palms at His/Her feet.

Maa always taught me to offer God with utmost care & devotion and I meant to follow her words (as a kid) to deserve the sandesh and nokuldana (Sweet offered to God) at the end of her Puja. Haha ....