Diwali Gift Ideas for Family and Colleagues

The traditional shape of a Diwali gift

A Diwali gift is judged on whether it reads correctly more than on what it costs. The shape most people expect is something sweet, something that gives light, and — for a home that does puja — something for the puja room.

Get that shape right and a modest hamper lands better than an expensive one that ignores it. Mithai or dry fruit, diyas or candles, and brass if the house will use it.

• Diwali hampers

For parents and in-laws

Err traditional. A brass thali set, a Lakshmi-Ganesh murti, good kaju katli and dry fruit. This is the one audience where the conventional gift is the right gift, and where something modern and clever is a risk for no reward.

If they are far away, order several days early and let it arrive before the festival rather than during it.

For staff and clients

Corporate Diwali gifting goes wrong in two ways: the budget shows, or every box is identical and obviously bought by the hundred. The fix for the first is to change the contents to fit the budget rather than shrinking the same hamper until it looks mean. The fix for the second is to put the branding on the card and not over the gift.

Send the same box to everyone at the same grade. People compare, and a visible tier is worse than a plain gift.

• Corporate gifting

For someone who does not want sweets

Diabetics, people dieting, and anyone who has received nine boxes of mithai by the Tuesday. A spa set, tea, candles or a keepsake all read as a Diwali gift without adding to the pile.

This is worth asking about rather than guessing, especially for staff.

When to order

Earlier than you think. The week before Diwali is the busiest of the year for every courier in India, and a gift that arrives the day after is worth a fraction of one that arrives the week before.

For bulk corporate orders, allow two to three weeks: the contents have to be sourced, the cards printed, and the boxes packed by hand.