A journey through festive traditions, modern gifting and the art of choosing well.

Long before the festive hamper, there was the gesture. A box of sweets carried across a threshold, new clothes saved for an auspicious morning, a silver coin pressed into a palm, a brass lamp given with wishes for prosperity. Across generations, gifting has been less about the object and more about what it carries with it: warmth, meaning and a sense of occasion.

The objects have changed, but the instinct has not. What has changed is the abundance around them. Today, gifting comes with endless catalogues, elaborate packaging and boxes designed to impress before they are even opened. And perhaps that is exactly why something chosen with a particular person in mind feels increasingly special.

For gifting curator and entrepreneur Janani Porkodi, the best place to begin is not with the festival, but with the person at the heart of the gift.

Start With the Person

For a long festive list, Janani suggests dividing recipients first by relationship and budget, while keeping age and occasion in mind. A close friend allows room for something deeply personal; an acquaintance may be better suited to something universal and useful. Importantly, thoughtfulness does not require spending the same amount on everyone.

“I love gifting people something they wouldn’t necessarily buy for themselves but would really enjoy,” Janani says.

A parent may appreciate good-quality nuts or a plant. A host might enjoy elegant serveware or a thoughtful décor piece. For a close friend, the possibilities become more personal, while a young professional might genuinely enjoy a gadget chosen around their lifestyle.

Even the person who appears to have everything usually offers a clue if you pay attention. For someone devoted to their morning filter coffee, for instance, a beautifully designed davara set can carry more meaning than the grandest generic hamper.

Spend Where it Matters

A thoughtful gift need not begin with a large budget. Under ₹1,500, Janani suggests a well-designed davara set, quality nuts, artisanal chocolates or dates. Between ₹3,000 and ₹5,000, the possibilities open up to home décor, useful gadgets, plants or a curated box bringing together a few interesting homegrown labels.

The principle remains the same at every price point.

“One good thing rather than many average things,” she shares.

It is an especially useful rule during a season when quantity can easily become confused with generosity. Even with food, she would rather give quality nuts that can be stored and enjoyed over time than another box of sweets in a home already overflowing with them.

Tradition, Reconsidered

Dussehra and Diwali need not automatically receive the same gifting treatment. For Dussehra, Janani gravitates towards traditional choices such as brass, silver and festive décor. Diwali, she feels, leaves more room to experiment with contemporary gifting.

Tradition itself can be treated with the same imagination. Brass, silver, textiles and handcrafted pieces have endured because they already carry a sense of occasion. Contemporary design can simply make them belong more naturally in modern homes. A beautifully designed brass diya or modern davara set retains the familiarity of the object while giving it a different life.

Food, too, can move beyond the predictable festive sweet box.

“Nuts are something I’d much rather give because they last longer and are less likely to go to waste,” Janani explains.

Good-quality nuts, dates, artisanal chocolates or something made by a home baker can offer a welcome change during a season already abundant with mithai.

For the Younger Table

That same thoughtfulness matters when choosing for children and teenagers. Books, creative kits and activity-led presents can give younger children something to return to after the festivities are over. Teenagers are often easier to shop for when the gift follows an interest, hobby or everyday habit rather than a conventional festive formula.

For older adults, Janani suggests looking towards plants, good food, home décor or something connected to a hobby. The recipient changes, but the question remains remarkably consistent: will this person actually enjoy or use it?

BEFORE YOU BUY

WHO IS IT FOR?
Think about your relationship with the recipient before choosing the gift.

WILL THEY USE IT?
Practical does not have to mean impersonal.

WOULD THEY BUY IT THEMSELVES?
Sometimes the best gift is the small luxury someone would enjoy but rarely purchase.

DOES IT FIT THEIR LIFE?
A gadget, décor piece or hobby-led gift works best when it reflects how the person actually lives.

WOULD YOU WANT TO RECEIVE IT?
Janani’s final test is the simplest one: would you genuinely be happy opening it yourself?

Beyond the Beautiful Box

The modern hamper presents another challenge. Elaborate boxes, ribbons and fillers can make almost anything appear luxurious, but Janani recommends judging what is inside before being persuaded by the presentation.

“If you removed the beautiful box, would you still feel every product was worth buying individually? Good packaging should elevate good products, not hide average ones,” she says.

It is a useful test not only for hampers but for festive gifting more broadly. Being too generic, overdoing quantity and buying something simply because it looks “festive” are among the most common mistakes she sees.

Instead, pause before adding another item to the basket.

“Will this person genuinely use or enjoy this, or will it just add to the things they already have?” Janani asks.

The question also changes what “luxury” can mean. Good tableware, coffee accessories, beautiful home décor, plants and well-designed gadgets can all feel indulgent while remaining useful long after the festivities end. With electronics in particular, she recommends choosing around the recipient’s actual interests and lifestyle rather than simply picking something impressive.

Gift Closer to Home

Janani also recommends looking towards homegrown labels, independent makers and small businesses, where gifts often arrive with a story of their own.

Social media has made discovering small makers, home bakers and independent brands easier than ever. Sometimes the right festive gift may already be coming from someone within your own first or second circle.

“Choosing them over a regular corporate sweets brand is a lovely way to gift while also supporting their business,” she shares.

Handcrafted products and food are particularly well suited to this approach, combining the pleasure of giving with the opportunity to support somebody building something of their own.

In the end, Janani’s approach to festive gifting comes down to a handful of deceptively simple questions. Who is this for? What is your relationship with them? Will they actually use it? Is it something they would love but probably would not buy for themselves?

And finally:

“Would I be genuinely happy receiving it?” she says.

Remove the ribbon, the box and the decorative filler, and that may be the most useful measure of all.

Festivals remind us to return to the people, rituals and relationships that anchor us. A thoughtful gift becomes one small way of honouring all three.