Sending Diwali Gifts to India

Diwali, or Deepavali, as it is also called in some parts of India, is also known as the ‘festival of lights’. It is a five-day festival, celebrated with great joy and exuberance all over India, usually around the latter part of October or the early part of November. The festival commemorates the victory of Lord Rama, a revered Hindu god, over Ravana, which signifies good triumphing over evil. Diwali is, in fact, celebrated in honor of Lord Rama returning to Ayodhya after enduring an exile of fourteen years, a tale that is recounted in the Indian epic, the Ramayana. Hence, the people of Ayodhya are said to have used diyas, or oil lamps, to light up the whole city of Ayodhya to welcome their beloved king, Lord Rama. A tradition that is followed even today, although replaced by multi-hued little strings of electric lights in many parts of the country, especially in large cities. Apart from the ubiquitous lights lighting up every Indian village, town and city, Diwali is also celebrated with fireworks, and, of course, exchanging gifts.

The gift giving custom of Diwali is as old as the festival itself. Giving gifts during this festival is particularly important because Diwali is also a celebration of prosperity and plenty. People not only splurge on themselves, buying new clothes, gold and silver ornaments, utensils, special sweets, and so on, but they also give special gifts to their friends and family.

These days, with Indian families and friends spread all over the world, defying the distance that separates you from your loved ones, plenty of online resources have sprung up through which you can send Diwali gifts to India.

You will find websites that offer a wide variety of gifts for Diwali ranging from the traditional and authentic to auspicious gifts such as diyas, wall hangings, accessories for the pooja (the prayers conducted during the festival), dry fruits packed in colorful presentation boxes, traditional Indian sweets like halwa, peda and boondi laddoo hampers, gold and silver coins, idols, and traditional jewelry sets. You will also find household and kitchen products like mixers and grinders, toasters, crockery and cookware, colorful handcrafted torans (decorative pieces for the doorway), and all manner of clothes from T-shirts to saris.

But why not go beyond the traditional? If you feel like it you can also find watches, perfumes, or electronic goods like mobile phones, digital cameras, Ipod or MP4 players, headphones, sub woofer systems, and so on. Or, why not be different? There are websites that have beautiful handicraft items like Indian miniature paintings with handcrafted wood or metal frames, gem stone studded magazine and key holders, Radha and Krishna statuettes, coasters with Meenakari work on them, small brass planters… You can give vent to your imagination just by browsing through the delightful gift ideas that are given on these websites.

Shopping online for Diwali gifts is not only convenient and fast, but, as is evident, you also get a whole world of products as well as services sitting in the comfort of your home. All you need to do is browse through the various categories of gifts listed on the websites, choose your gifts after checking out their prices, pay by credit card or through net banking, and simply order them to be sent to practically any city across India.

However, even if most online shopping may be fast and safe, it is a good idea to be a smart consumer, taking all the necessary precautions such as keeping records of your purchases, keeping a track of them and following up if not delivered on time, maintaining your privacy online, comparing prices and getting the best deal, reading the fine print about the company’s refund and return policies, and so on.

So, go ahead, make this Diwali a special one both for yourself and all your near and dear ones back home in India. Pick special Diwali gifts and send them to India, spreading the sparkle of light and love right across the world.

Here’s wishing everybody a Happy Diwali and Best Wishes for the season!