Boats near the Bandra- Worli Sea Link bridge in Mumbai, India
Welcome back to our global gifting year-end countdown! Today’s gifting suggestions come to us from India via Bornali Bhandari, PhD ’06 (Economics) and current Global Studies/Journalism student Shreya Silori. Following their personal gift picks, Bornali and Shreya have also shared some information about popular gifting holidays in India.
Bornali Bhandari is based in New Delhi where she is a Senior Fellow at India’s National Council for Applied Economic Research (NCAER), India’s oldest and largest national, non-profit, economic research institute. Her background is in international economics and macroeconomics, specifically focusing on the impact of globalization on development. Currently she is engaged in analyzing and assessing the progress and prospects of implementing Direct Benefit Transfers in states and Union Territories. The COVID-19 pandemic has also led Bornali to assess the economic impacts of Indian government policies and efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 while also promoting economic stability and supporting those whose livelihoods have been negatively impacted.
Shreya Silori is a Global Studies/Journalism double major in her junior year at the UO. She is from both India (Kotdwar in Uttarakhand, not far from the famous towns of Haridwar and Rishikesh) and Thailand (Bangkok). Shreya holds leadership roles in three UO student organizations! She is the undergraduate student liaison for Students of the Indian Subcontinent (@uoregonsis on Instagram) and is a program executive handling event planning and organization for both the International Peer Mentor Program (@uointlpeers on Instagram) and the International Students Association (@uoisa on Instagram). She does Bollywood dance and is a certified open water diver! Shreya’s other interests include religion; Indian and Thai culture, traditions and values, music; dance; food; global development issues; environmental issues; traveling; personal experiences, and leadership.
Bornali Bhandari, PhD ’06
Senior Fellow at India’s National Council for Applied Economic Research (NCAER)
Top gifts: Trends and traditions
Rakhi or wrist bracelets
There is more explanation of Raksha Bandhan below. It is a time when women and girls gift rakhi or wrist bracelets to their brothers and/or other male friends and relatives. The wrist bracelets are tied and were traditionally simple thread bracelets. These days, bracelets come in all kinds and price ranges, with some featuring popular comic book heroes or cartoon characters or even medallions made of precious stones and metals. Wrist bracelets are also gifted on Friendship Day in India when people give one another friendship bands.
Books
Books are a popular gift, both for those who must study and those who read for pleasure! Good books an be found not only online on sites like Amazon and Flipkart, but also in bigger bookstore chains and small bookstalls that are everywhere! In Old Delhi, there is a famous book market for second-hand books every Sunday.
Jewelry
India is the world’s largest consumer of gold, with some people still opting to keep their savings in gold jewelry rather than in a bank account. Jewelry is an important gift for weddings and is also a very popular gift during Diwali season (another festival explained below). There is a day called Danteras, when it is considered very auspicious to buy gold or buy other big-ticket items like cars and appliances.
Aside from gold jewelry (which is usually very ornate and 23 or 24 carat), India has many other very beautiful jewelry items, from more affordable lac/resin bangles and beautiful meena/enamel work to large kundan-set precious stone jewelry – and much more!
Top gifts: Personal picks
Music
Along with books, music is a wonderful gift! India has a long and diverse tradition of classical music in both the north and south of the country. A wonderful set of video performances by classical music maestros of all instruments and styles was shared on YouTube by Music Classics World Service Air (click the highlighted text to enjoy). This is a great way to start listening! There is also a wide range of Indian folk music as well as Bollywood music! Besides watching the movies that feature the songs along with their dance sequences, apps like Saavn and Gaana are a good way to get introduced to Bollywood music.
Gift to Charity
A gift to a charity that is close to the heart makes everyone feel good! One needs to be selective and properly research charities before donating. This is true everywhere in the world. In India, a 2009 estimate stated that there were 3.3 million non-governmental organizations (NGOs) – or one for every 400 people! Of course, not all of them are created equal, so due diligence is advised!
Mugs with funny sayings
Mugs with funny sayings are great gifts because they are useful and can bring a smile to my face over and over again! The sayings are amusing, and I am always reminded of the person who gifted me the mug.
Shreya Silori
Current UO Global Studies and Journalism double major, international student group superstar, and recipient of multiple sholarships
My top gifts: Trends and traditions
Sweets
India is a land of many sweets and most of them are sweeter than western people are used to – there have even been comedy videos made about westerners trying Indian sweets for the first time! One of the most popular sweets for gifting is laddoo (sweet balls made of various flours, grains, and nuts, bound together with sugar and delicious ghee – clarified butter). A few others are gulab jamun, barfi, and gujiya (pictured). Gujiya are fried flour dumplings filled with milk solids and nuts/dry fruits. They are popularly made and shared for Holi, India’s Spring festival of colors. You can learn to make gujiya with this recipe!
Clothing
Clothing is a popular gift, especially during Diwali when wearing a new outfit is part of the holiday tradition! Traditional clothes include saris (pictured) and lehengas for women and kurtas for men (there are also women’s style kurtas, which are long shirts)!
Money
Money is a popular gift, especially at weddings.
My top gifts: Personal picks
Snacks, munchies, candies, sweets!
I love all snacks and sweets! Popular Indian savory snacks are called namkeen and are made from different kinds of fried flours, chickpeas, or lentils and sometimes include nuts (called dried fruit in India). There are many delicious namkeens – Haldiram’s is one of India’s most popular brands and you can find Haldiram namkeens in mostIndian/Asian groceries.
Salwar suit or lehengha
I love lehengas and salwar suits (see photo). Salwar suits are usually a set that comes with a kurta or long shirt, pants or leggings of different styles, and a long scarf called a chuni or dupatta.
A Donation to the International Cultural Service Program Scholarship Fund
People do not realize how many lives the International Cultural Service Program (ICSP) is changing – I am an ICSP awardee myself! ICSP deserves support from anyone who realizes the importance of international/intercultural understanding and dialogue.
Vintage Air Jordans
I love Air Jordans! Plus, as Nike shoes, they are linked to the UO.
Gifting in India
Bornali and Shreya share that he main gifting holidays they have observed in India are Diwali, Raksha Bandhan and Bhai Dooj.
Diwali (in October-November) follows twenty days after Dusshera. Both celebrate the idea of good winning over evil. Known as the festival of lights, Diwali is a celebration of joy and prosperity. Family members, different families, and relatives exchange gifts, sometimes, in the form of handmade sweets.
Rakshabandhan is when a sister ties a thread around her brother’s wrist and the brother offers gifts to the sister and promises to protect her throughout her life. It has evolved in modern ages where siblings irrespective of gender promise to protect each other. While Rakshabandhan is typically celebrated in August (primarily in Northern India), Bhai Dooj is celebrated in the days after Diwali. It also celebrates the brother-sister bonding and it is the sisters’ turn o gift the brothers!
