Winning at Diwali gifting: Ditch the mithai, bring on the bling

Few festivals transform the world’s most populous country quite like Diwali. Markets burst with marigold garlands, jewel-toned silks and boxes of Indian sweets. Homes are strung with lights, colorful rangoli patterns decorate doorsteps, and families travel across cities and continents to celebrate together. By nightfall, rows of earthen oil lamps flicker in courtyards and fireworks light up the sky.

Diwali, which falls on Nov. 8 this year, celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. Its significance varies across regions and religions, from Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya in northern India to Lord Krishna’s victory over Narakasura in parts of the south.

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The festivities are also big business. India's online sales during the run-up to Diwali are expected to rise about 25% to as much as $16 billion this year, according to Redseer Strategy Consultants, marking the fastest growth in five years.

Beyond the shopping, hosting is a major part of the celebrations, with packed calendars of dinners, drinks and late-night gatherings in India and across the diaspora. At a glittering New York bash a few weeks back, investors and entertainment executives mingled over Bollywood music and Indian food, with some even discussing potential business deals.

One doesn’t want to arrive empty-handed. Buying something new is considered auspicious. For our debut Diwali gift guide, we’ve looked beyond the usual gold and sweets to the customs behind the celebrations, from late-night card games to extravagant festive dressing. With this year’s festival just days away, our picks offer inspiration for now and a head start on planning for next year.

Regal Varyaa Gift Box

Diwali visits rarely end without guests being offered something to eat, whether a plate of savory snacks or a full family feast. Handmade brass vessels, traditionally associated with auspiciousness and once common at Indian dining tables, are still prized for special occasions. The Mansion’s Regal Varyaa set gives this tradition a contemporary spin, pairing two leaf-motif brass dinner plates and four etched small bowls for curries and accompaniments, with mosaic ceramic pasta plates, cutlery and serving pieces. A decorative candle holder rounds out the collection for festive entertaining. 27,350 rupees ($290)

Leather Poker Box

According to Hindu folklore, Goddess Parvati once defeated her husband, Lord Shiva, in a game of dice. Legend has it that she then declared playing on Diwali would bring good fortune throughout the year. The belief lives on in the tradition of Diwali card parties, where families and friends gather for rounds of teen patti, a three-card game similar to poker, often playing for small stakes in the hope of inviting luck and prosperity. Leather Talks gives this festive pastime an upgrade with a leather gaming box containing playing cards and poker chips, available in burgundy, navy blue, dark brown and tan, with crocodile-embossed finishes. 18,995 rupees ($201)

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Lakshmi-Ganesha Gold Coin

Not all gold bought during Diwali is meant to be worn. Coins bearing Hindu deities are often placed on household altars during Lakshmi Puja, the festival’s main prayer ceremony, and brought out for worship in subsequent years. Tanishq’s 2-gram, 24-karat gold coin depicts Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, alongside Ganesha, the elephant-headed god believed to remove obstacles. The coin brings together divine blessings and gold, two things Indians have long held dear, and can become part of Diwali celebrations year after year. 31,702 rupees ($335)

Deepa Candle Stand

Diwali takes its name from the Sanskrit word Deepavali, meaning a row of lights. Traditionally, families line doorways, windows and courtyards with tiny earthen oil lamps, or diyas, to dispel darkness and welcome Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity. Collektklove reimagines this centuries-old custom with its Deepa candle stand, crafted from multicolored blown glass and inspired by the ornate curves of South India’s Dravidian temples. The sculptural piece makes for a striking centerpiece long after the celebrations end. 30,000 rupees ($317)

Gold Pista Katli

No Diwali celebration is complete without Indian sweets, which are exchanged by the boxful and offered to nearly everyone who comes through the door. Gold, however, isn’t usually something you’d expect to find on your serving plate. Khoya’s Gold Pista Katli takes the traditional diamond-shaped Indian confection, a rich, melt-in-the-mouth fudge made from finely ground nuts and sugar, into extravagant territory. This version uses prized Pishori pistachios, with each of the 30 pieces finished with edible 24-karat gold leaf. It’s a playful nod to the festival’s association with wealth and good fortune. 21,000 rupees ($222)

A Royal Diwali in Jaipur

Few cities celebrate Diwali quite like Jaipur, where the historic walled city becomes a spectacle of light. Each year, traders compete to create elaborate displays, illuminating entire markets with thousands of lights. Visitors can wander through Johari Bazaar, known for its jewelry shops, and past Hawa Mahal, the city’s iconic pink sandstone landmark, as crowds gather to admire the decorations.

For a sumptuous retreat, the Leela Palace Jaipur, set against the Aravalli Hills, offers a taste of Rajasthan’s royal hospitality. Its festive package, available for stays through Nov. 15, includes evening ceremonial rituals, pottery-making, traditional puppet shows, guided palace art walks and chef-curated dinners, alongside an artisanal welcome gift and departure souvenir. (For advance planners, Diwali falls on Oct. 29 in 2027.) Nightly rates this year range from 25,800 rupees ($273) to 322,500 rupees ($3,413), depending on room category, before taxes.

Rampur Jugalbandi Whisky

Whisky is a popular choice at Diwali parties, and India’s growing reputation for premium single malts offers a good reason to look beyond imported Scotch. Rampur’s limited-edition Jugalbandi No. 5 takes its name from Indian classical music, where two musicians engage in a playful duet, trading melodies and responding to each other. Here, the name refers to the interplay between American bourbon barrels and casks previously used to mature Hungary’s prized Tokaji wine. The combination is bottled at 55.6% alcohol and delivers notes of apricot, honey, caramel and spice. 27,600 rupees at duty-free ($292)

Stripey Bee Cocktail Shaker Set

Diwali may be rooted in religious traditions, but it's also an excuse to throw a good party. For a change from the usual sweets and flowers, Joanna Buchanan's four-piece stainless-steel cocktail set makes a playful addition to the drinks trolley. Featuring a shaker, strainer, spoon and jigger adorned with decorative bee motifs, it's a gift for anyone who enjoys playing bartender. And unlike the party snacks, it won't be gone by morning. 19,545 rupees ($206)

Savana Rug

Textiles and furnishings are popular Diwali gifts, but a hand-knotted rug makes for a particularly generous one. Jaipur Rugs’ wool Savana design, in shades of indigo and deep blue, draws on India’s long tradition of carpet weaving, with a rich, layered palette that lends depth and character to a room. Choosing a rug for someone else’s home takes an eye for their taste, but get it right and it becomes a lasting, personal gift, one they’ll remember you by every time they walk into the room. 345,450 rupees ($3,656)

Chandbali Clutch

Against an outfit of embroidered silks and rich embellishments, an ordinary handbag can look rather out of place. Mumbai-based Meera Mahadevia, the first Indian accessories designer to showcase at Paris’s Vendôme Luxury Exhibition in 2010, takes inspiration from the chandbali, a traditional crescent-shaped earring. Her handcrafted clutch borrows the distinctive silhouette, with intricate filigree detailing that gives it the appearance of an oversized piece of jewelry. 72,500 rupees ($767)