Gift IdeasDiwali gift ideas
Diwali gifts are exchanged between families, neighbours, friends and business contacts. They are tokens of good wishes, usually sweets, dry fruits and things for the home.
A box of their favourite sweets
Find out the exact shop and the exact sweet. Precision is the gift.
A potted plant
Pick a hardy one that survives missed waterings: money plant, snake plant or jade.
A set of diyas or scented candles
Hand-painted clay diyas suit the season and support a local potter.
A jar of homemade pickle, jam or laddus
Label it with the date and what is inside. Homemade food carries your time in it.
A storybook or a set of picture books
Ask the bookseller for the right reading age. Write the child's name and the date inside.
Crayons, paints and a drawing book
Add a large roll of plain paper. Children run out of paper before colours.
A piggy bank with a first deposit inside
An old-fashioned gift that starts a habit.
A pack of dry fruits
Keeps for weeks, suits every age, and nobody has to guess a size.
A board game for the whole family
Choose one that grandparents and children can play together.
A building block or construction set
Check the age on the box. Small parts are not for children under three.
A shirt or kurta
Check the size from a shirt in his cupboard, not from memory.
A warm shawl or stole
Wool for the north, light cotton or silk for the south.
A soft cushion, backrest or foot rest for their favourite chair
Comfort gifts are the right gifts for elders.
A large printed family photograph
Get everyone into one picture, print it big and frame it.
A tea or coffee set
For a home that loves guests.
A hamper of snacks and tea
Build it yourself in a reusable basket. Choose things the person actually eats.
Dates and dry fruits in a decorated box
A traditional gift when visiting on Eid.
A fruit basket
Seasonal fruit, well arranged. A good gift for elders and for visits to the unwell.
A saree, suit piece or dupatta
If you do not know her taste, choose a classic colour and a fabric she already wears.
A silver coin
A traditional token of good fortune at Diwali, weddings and the birth of a child.
A good pressure cooker, mixer or non-stick pan
Only if they have said they need one. Then buy the best you can.
Bed linen in plain colours
Check the bed size. Good cotton in a quiet colour is always used.
A brass or silver item for the puja room
A diya, a bell or a small plate. Only when you know the family's faith and practice.
No idea matches these choices. Set one of the boxes back to "Any".
Your shortlist
Choosing a Diwali gift
- Dry fruits keep longer than milk sweets, which matters when a family receives many boxes.
- Diyas, candles and things for the puja suit the festival.
- For staff and helpers, money or something truly useful is kinder than a decorative item.
About the spending levels
This site does not quote prices, because prices change with the city, the shop and the year. Each idea is marked with one of four levels instead:
- Token: A small gesture: the cost of a snack or a few cups of tea.
- Modest: An everyday gift for friends and family.
- Generous: A special gift for someone close or a big occasion.
- Grand: A once-in-years gift, often given by a family together.
Questions people ask
What is a good Diwali gift?
Dry fruits keep longer than milk sweets, which matters when a family receives many boxes. Two ideas from this page: "A potted plant" and "A warm shawl or stole".
Is it fine to give money?
In India, money in an envelope is a normal and welcome gift on most family occasions, especially weddings and festivals. Add a line of blessing and your name. See our page on shagun.
Other occasions
Guides
- Shagun: giving moneyThe envelope, the extra rupee and how to decide the amount.
- Gifting etiquetteGiving, receiving, regifting and gifts to avoid.
- Return giftsIdeas for birthdays, weddings, pujas and housewarmings.
- Gift wrappingWrap a box neatly, or wrap without paper at all.
- Gift messagesShort lines to write on a tag or card, to copy.
- Secret Santa name drawerPair everyone for a gift exchange on one phone.