Gift Ideas for the Durga Puja Festival

The Durga Puja Festival is one of the biggest social events in India. It is a religious festival that honors the goddess Durga. The celebration lasts for five days, starting from Maha Shashti (the sixth day) and ends with Bijoya dashami (the tenth day). Singing, dancing, sweets and gaiety are an integral part of the Durga Puja Festival. People send Durga Puja Gifts to dear ones and express good wishes. In 2010, Durga Puja starts on October 14.

If you would like to give someone a gift during Durga Puja, your best bet is to stick with tradition. Here are some simple Durga Puja gift ideas that you can either make yourself, or order online.

Durga Puja Greeting Cards: A simple greeting card for Durga Puja is an easy, yet thoughtful gift to send to someone living in another country. You can craft your own greeting card using printed clip art of the goddess Durga, or you can send an e-card if you prefer. You can send free e-cards at durgapuja-cards.com.

Durga Puja Apparels: Clothing, such as sarees and kurtas, are very popular Durga Puja gifts. You can find lots of options online for this kind of clothing. If you would like something handmade, you can always buy a colorful scarf and add some hand embroidery using satin thread.

Durga Puja Dandiya Sticks: Dandiya sticks are colorful sticks that are held when dancing. They are traditionally made from wood and can vary in size. You can order Dandiya sticks online or you can make your own. They can be simple wooden sticks that are painted with colorful stripes, or they can be very elaborate and ornate, will bells hanging off them. Click here to see some images of what Dandiya sticks look like.

Durga Puja Hampers: A hamper is simply a basket that is filled with goodies. You can fill it with dried fruits, nuts, or chocolate. You can also use a tray instead of a basket to present your gift. Any type of chocolate or fruits is an appropriate gift for Durga Puja.

Durga Puja Decoratives: There are many decoratives available online that you can order that make wonderful gifts for the Durga Puja festival. These decoratives can be as simple as a candle holder or as elaborate as exquisite wall hangings. Many of the decoratives can also be handmade if you are the crafty type.

For more information about the Durga Puja Festival, you can visit this website. That site explains the rituals, the mythology and the significance of the holiday, and it will help you with gift ideas.