Rounds of card games and cocktails, rangolis and mithai, going out in your finest — Diwali is here and with it comes that one annual anxiety. What do you give as gifts to the people you work and play with to show them you really care? Here are some ideas for thoughtful, mindful gifts suitable for every kind of personality you know. The one who is all about aesthetics to the one who is all about experiences, the one who thinks of the environment and the ones who are serial hobbyists — you’re about to win major brownie points with your crew.
ALSO READ: Diwali 2023: Gifting ideas for health, wellness and adventure enthusiasts
Diwali gifts for your startup employees/ colleagues
1. Broken Bat gin by NAO Spirits
It’s the season of cricket, and this limited edition gin is a great way to keep the spirit of the game alive long after the World Cup is over. Broken Bat gin is the popular Greater Than gin aged in barrels made of crowdsourced cricket bats made of Kashmir willow, and boasts tasting notes of aged leather and freshly-toasted wood. It’s just the pitch for yet another round of poker.
Rs 2,400 in Maharashtra, Rs 1,450 in Goa and Rs 2,450 in Karnataka
2. Diwali gift bundles from Daily Objects
Remember the mountains of diaries, planners and shiny pens that your Dad would receive from his business associates around the festive season? You could channel the same spirit of productivity but with gifts that your employees and colleagues might actually use. If you don’t know where to start, just browse through Daily Objects’ Diwali gift bundles—there’s one for jet-setters including a fanny pack, a passport wallet, a leather keychain and a scented candle; another for the desk-aesthetic lovers including a deskmat, an organiser and a scented candle, among many other options.
Starting at Rs 3,999, Dailyobjects.com
3. Sup Retro Games Box 400 in 1
Few things speak to millennials like the nostalgia for the 1990s, a time of vivid possibilities and digital imaginations. And nothing encapsulates it as well as the 8-bit video games they were all hooked to as kids. Gift them a Sup Retro Game Box, a red-coloured handheld device which holds 400 timeless retro games including Mario, Contra, Spinmaster, Dragon Ball Z, Mad Motor, Riot City and many more.
Rs 699, Flipkart
4. Coffee table books from Ikka Dukka
They say no one reads anymore, but there’s something especially alluring about a well put-together coffee table book that the most paragraph-averse person will appreciate — even if it is just the aesthetic value a hardbound book can bring to their living room.
Ikka Dukka features a beautiful collection to pick from, and to match to your employees/ colleagues’ interests. Whether it’s a slice of post-modern art in a copy of the latest edition of the TOILETPAPER Magazine, a journey through Bhutan through Wilhelm Klein’s photos, notes on Wes Anderson’s filmography — there’s literally something for everyone.
Miscellaneous, ikkadukka.com
5. Diwali gift boxes from Phool.co
Our festivities needn’t be a burden on the planet, and mindful gifting practices can help with that too. Phool.co’s handmade products are created out of flower waste, and they have an assortment of quirky Diwali-related paraphernalia to pick from. Whether it’s simply a box of candles in the shape of motichoor ladoos and a pack of playing cards; or a bundle that includes cedar incense sticks, plantable crackers, ceramic diyas, and a packet of nutty almonds—these are sure to bring in the right vibe.
From Rs 245, Phool.co
Diwali gifts for your spouse
6. A saree from Raw Mango
No time like the festive season to add heirlooms to your partner’s collection, and a saree from designer Sanjay Garg’s rarefied label is just the ticket. Explore Raw Mango’s colour-forward, minimalist Indian aesthetic across collections—Suzegad if you fancy fuchsia; Soiree if your palette is more green; A Thousand Flowers for retro-style floral organza sarees in bright red.
Starting from Rs 5,000; Rawmango.com
7. Dior Sauvage Elixir for Men
Woody, fresh and spicy, Dior’s Sauvage Elixir has been the hottest thing in perfumes for men this year. Your partner will appreciate its ability to travel from the Diwali party round table to the boardroom.
Rs 16,600 for 100 ml on Nykaa.com
8. Hermès Twilly d’Hermès Eau de Parfum
Ginger, tuberose, and sandalwood—three fairly festive ingredients come together in this iconic perfume for women from French luxury label Hermes, in a bottle that boasts a unique silk ribbon.
Rs 12,650 for 85 ml, on Hermes.com
9. The Royal Bengal Minaudiere from Sabyasachi
A party clutch with the iconic Bengal Tiger logo is unmistakably luxury, Sabyasachi and timeless. Your partner will appreciate this demonstration of good taste.
Rs 59,500, Sabyasachi.com
10. MyMuse “Grand Gesture”
Call it radical but it’s always a good time to give each other the gift of pleasure. MyMuse’s “Grand Gesture” kit for couples features 11 products, including massagers, candles, card games, massage oils and more; and is a quirky interpretation of the decadence of the festive season.
Rs 18,299; mymuse.in
Diwali gifts for your siblings
11. Jewellery from Nicobar
The sibling who loves their gilt will be thrilled with a little glitter this Diwali. Nicobar’s new Firefly collection has on offer a range of gorgeous gold danglers and necklaces — each a statement piece on its own that can elevate any outfit for epic celebrations.
From Rs 4,500, nicobar.com
12. A coffee subscription with Sixteen Grams
For the sibling who cannot enter the living world without their daily drip of caffeine, spring for a subscription from Sixteen Grams, the Gurgaon-based startup that knowledgebly matches your taste profile with a curated and growing selection of beans and grounds from India’s best roasters, including Araku, Kafeido, Quick Brown Fox, Third Wave, Dope and more.
From Rs 1,500; sixteengrams.com
13. A Masterclass subscription
For that ever-curious cousin bent on self-improvement, choose a subscription to Masterclass, the platform that brings together bite-sized lessons from world-famous artists, academics and experts on any subject under the sun. Life lessons from American comedian Amy Poehler and Kevin Kart; kitchen sessions with Gordon Ramsay (without the yelling); singing tutorials from Christina Aguilera and Mariah Carey; deep intellectual thinking with Noam Chomsky and Malala Yousafzai—the thrills of being back in the classroom in your 30s is unbeatable.
From Rs 999 per month; masterclass.com
14. A meal at Indian Accent
Impress the foodie sister/ brother who knows everything there is to know about food with an all-expenses paid meal at Indian Accent, ranked No 19 among Asia’s 50 best restaurants this year. The six-course, wine-paired tasting menu is a peek into celebrated chef Manish Mehrotra’s inventive take on modern Indian cuisine — naans and parathas combined with delectable mains such as the signature tamarind crab with coconut curry. It’s a culinary experience they won’t forget in a hurry.
From Rs 4,800 per person
15. The Collector Box from Kulture Shop
Mumbai’s iconic Kulture Shop shut down some months ago, but they are offering their inimitable collection of Indian graphic art in limited edition collector boxes. There are 20 boxes available in 5 art themes — culture, design, fusion, nature and people — featuring some of India’s most loved graphic artists. A great gift for the sibling whose aesthetic is floor-to-ceiling frame-covered walls.
From Rs 9,990, Kultureshop.in
Diwali gifts for your close friends
16. Tickets to Lollapalooza 2024
Stretch your festive season into next year and take the gang to Lollapalooza’s second edition in Mumbai, set to take place on January 27-28 at Mahalaxmi Race Course. If the first edition was anything to go by, it’s going to be just the carnival of international music greats and a stellar F&B curation.
From Rs 10,999, bookmyshow.com
17. Shasn
For the board game lover who whips out their box of Settlers of Catan every chance they get, serve up India’s best board game for some controversial nights. Shasn is a strategy game entrenched in a political climate that puts you in the crosshairs of winning and keeping voters, deciding your platforms, debating your positions and figuring out your personality in the process. If Poker’s feeling a bit stale, this is the game to get the controversy flowing.
Rs 3,499; shasnthegame.com
18. Gold Athletica Barware Stand
You love their espresso martinis, why not give them some stylish tools to make their potions? This gorgeous brass and stainless steel set comes with a stand and will do the job while looking great.
Rs 6,950, jaypore.com
19. Ledaig 18 YO
What’s a Diwali without libations? Widely voted the best whisky to emerge from 2023, the Ledaig 18 YO is the kind of bottle that belongs in connoisseur’s collections. It’s the oldest single malt in Scottish distillery Tobermory’s heavily-peated range, with tasting notes of orange peel, tobacco, coffee, white pepper, licorice and sea-salt.
Rs 9,000 approx.
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