Cracker gifts beyond Diwali night

Most of our year happens in October, but more families now order gift boxes for other days too. Here are the occasions we pack for after Diwali, and what tends to suit each.

Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj fall within two days of Diwali, and many sisters bring a small box when they visit their brothers’ homes. The kids’ fancy box at ₹990 or a Diya and phuljhadi puja set at ₹690 is the right size: something to light that evening with the children, not a whole second Diwali. Order these with your Diwali boxes; we cannot take fresh orders in those two days.

Weddings are the next season, from late November. Families give small boxes of 30 cm gold sparklers to guests for the baraat, or set aside a few flower pots and peacock fountains for the bride’s welcome at home. For a wedding we pack sparklers in bundles of two boxes with a printed tag carrying the couple’s names. Check what your venue allows first; many marriage gardens on Ajmer Road and Tonk Road permit only sparklers.

For New Year’s Eve and birthdays, families mostly want sparklers and a single fountain for a terrace. Keep it small and quiet if neighbours have young children or elderly relatives. One caution: crackers bought in October and kept until December need careful storage. Keep them in their sealed box, in a dry cupboard away from the kitchen and away from sunlight. If a box has become damp or soft, do not use it; bring it back and we will tell you what to do.