Diwali Gift Ideas for the Festival of Lights

Diwali gift ideas for the Festival of Lights in India this October! This was brought about by my friend on Facebook, Shailesh Gohil, a fellow seafarer. He told me about the Navratri Festival this month (about the triumph of a goddess over evils for 10 days). While we chatted, I brought up about any 'gift ideas' this month. He immediately answered 'sweets'. He also promised to post some photos of the festivals on his FB account and the sweets he promised to show me.

I also shared with him that one of the best HubMobsters to date came from India, soni2006 (with all the awards she received during the previous HubMob contest). He told me that he'll try being a member of Hubpages virtual writing community, soon.

Meanwhile, I cannot wait for his promise so I browsed at the Diwali net site and some gift ideas they're proposing this year. During the celebration, children are most happy and eagerly participated in many activities plus the lure of having gifts, like toys, sweets and children's presents.

I told Shailesh that it's like an October 'Christmas' in India, where most people follow Hinduism. I can see the similarities of the celebration due to the colorful paper lanterns that adorn theirs houses a during late September and early October every year. It will be extended on November this year due to the lunar calendar.

Since "Festival of Lights" is not solely celebrated by Hindus (as Jews also celebrate it every year), it will be accompanied by gifts, whether it is perishable or not. The gifts are well-thought of, even the wrappings signify meaning among the givers and receivers, young and old. Happiness of children are both infectious and shallow, so a little money and prepared local sweets are most alluring to them, according to my Indian friend Shailesh.

So, if you happen to participate in the festival, this will be your guide to buy a gift for your loved ones.

1. Sweets - This is the most common to every celebration. Better discover the local delicacies in India while enjoying the festivities.
2. Diwali Gift Hampers - is like an all-in-one gift, consisting of sweets-chocolates, etc-, dry fruits, Lord Ganesha statue, and others.
3. Dry Fruits - like prunes (dried grapes), dates, are a delight to accompany the coming of winter during the Diwali.
4. Decorative Pieces - is also a come-on; where most local artisans participated in making treasured gifts for the people.
5. Cookwares - mostly silverware are adored by most wives who partake in the celebration as either a loving host or a cheerer to her children and husband.
6. Jewelry gifts - especially diamonds are explicitly wanted by most women.
7. Ganesh gifts - particularly his statue will surely delight the home of the receiver.

There are other modern gifts that attract most of the youth, like gadgets, computer and all. The parents should prepare for this occasion because it centers in finding 'inner peace' among the believers.

The similarities between Diwali and Christmas are so close that gift-giving is the most awaited part by the children during the early morning.

The Indian community in the country celebrates Diwali coinciding the festivities in mainland India. The triumph of good against evil is the essence of the celebration.

The festival centers on the family with the adornment of merriment...the firecrackers, lavish gifts, delicious foods, street fairs, prayers and music.

Filipino-Indians and other Hindus believed that it is the wedding of Lord Vishnu and Lakhsmi.

In Bengal, they believed that it is the time of worship for the goddess of force, Ina Keli. It is the hour of cleaning houses, purifying souls and celebrate it for a good harvest.