Dashain gift ideas for family and friends
If you’ve ever called Nepal home, you may be familiar with the popular holiday, Dashain. Dashain is a joyous time of bringing family and friends together to celebrate the triumph of good over evil.
Traditionally, Dashain takes place during the Nepalese month of Ashwin, which happens over September and October. One common way of celebrating Dashain is to send money in the form of ‘dakshina’, which older family members give to the younger generations. At WorldRemit, we’re experts in sending money back home – whether it’s for your dakshina or another purpose altogether. With that money, your loved ones can select one of the many gifts we’ve listed in this helpful article, which would be appropriate to help them celebrate. To simply find out more about Dashain, head over to our other blog post here.
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WorldRemit Content Team
• 5 mins read • Updated
Dashain gift ideas for family
When it comes to celebrating Dashain, family definitely comes first. The Nepalese are known for the tight-knit family cultures and households that are packed full of many different generations under one roof. That makes it all the more bittersweet when you’ve moved away. To stay connected to the festivities back home, try sending money for some of these wonderful gifts. And then light up your family’s lives as they receive your kind offerings.
1. Dry fruit hamper
A hamper can be a great, healthy option for the family who already have everything. You can choose from fresh fruit or dry fruit (which may last longer), and get it delivered straight to their door.
2. God idols
Dashain is based in Hindu religious lore, and celebrates Ramayan’s defeat of the demon-king, Ravana. That means that Hindu idols are a common gift given during the holidays. For example, a statue of Lord Ganesh is often used to celebrate new beginnings such as marriages or housewarmings. Hindu celebrants also consider the Laxmi idol to be an auspicious gift for a home.
3. Traditional jewellery
The women in your family may also appreciate some fine Nepalese jewellery. There are many types of traditional jewellery you can choose from, including:
Potae - a colourful type of multi-beaded necklace
Tillari - A gold choker worn by married women
Chadke Tilari - a large tellari necklace
Bulaki - A traditional ornament that women wear on their noses
Kantha - A type of embroidered cloth
4. Alcoholic beverage hampers for elders
Older members of the family may appreciate alcoholic beverage hampers. These can include traditional drinks from Nepal, such as raksi or aila. Raksi is a strong spirit made from distilled and fermented rice. It’s clear and very potent. Aila is made from fermented rice, millet and grains. It’s a very popular drink during Nepalese festivals.
5. Gold ornaments
Gold forms an important part of Nepalese culture, as features prominently in the Hindu religion (Laxmi is the goddess of wealth), and is also used in marriage rituals. Gold is also an important indicator of social status in Nepalese communities, so gifting someone gold ornaments would definitely not go amiss.
Dashain gift ideas for friends
Of course, family members aren’t the only ones who get given gifts during Dashain. Your close friends will also appreciate a money transfer back home to help them celebrate in style. Some of the other gifts that money could help them buy are included below.
6. Dhaka topi
Dhaka topis are a symbol of honour in Nepalese culture. They are a popular fabric that got its name from Dhaka in Bangladesh, where it was first imported. It’s worn by young and old people alike. Much like gold, topis indicate status in Nepalese culture depending on how you wear them.
7. Chiffon saree
Chiffon sarees are made by artisans, which makes them a gorgeous and elegant gift. They have a silky gloss and luxurious texture. Silk is used to make pure chiffon sarees, which gives the material a light sparkle. You can wear them draped over while you celebrate Dashain with grace.
8. Sweet hamper
Younger members of your inner circle (and – let’s face it – adults, too) will appreciate a hamper full of Nepalese sweets. You can fill it with the following tasty treats:
Ansara - jaggery (raw cane sugar) pastry that’s eaten during special occasions
Khurma - sugar-fried dough that’s carved into intricate patterns
Khajuri - fried sweet that’s shaped like Nepalese forests
Kaju Barfi - popular sweet made of cashew slices
9. Cosmetic gifts
At first glance, you may think that a cosmetic gift basket is just a gift for women. But, depending on what’s included, you can also make this an excellent gift for men, too. You don’t have to go out of your way to find specific Nepalese cosmetic products – which might be difficult to do if you live abroad. But including gifts like ‘lotions and potions’ such as perfumes, aftershave, and makeup will go a long way.
10. Personalised mugs and bottles
If you’d like to give something more personalised, you can often find mugs and bottles that can be inscribed with your loved one’s name. It’s also traditional to give items made of copper or clay, if you can find them.
Send money abroad as a Dashain gift with WorldRemit
If you’re completely new to sending money abroad to Nepal, the WorldRemit app is an incredibly safe way to do it. All of WorldRemit’s transfers are fully encrypted. Our money transfer service is already trusted by millions of people worldwide. Unlike the unsavoury characters you may find if you’ve ever tried to transfer through a Hundi agent. To get started with using WorldRemit, simply sign up in seconds. We’ll help get you and your loved ones’ Dashain celebrations off to a great start.
The contents of this blog post do not constitute legal or financial advice and are provided for general information purposes only. If you require specific legal and / or financial advice, you should contact a specialist lawyer or financial advisor. Information true at time of publishing.
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