Diwali is a time for joy, a time for fun and more than just being a festival, it is an occasion to reaffirm your faith in your fellow men; a time to give and a time to receive. A wide range of Diwali Gifts are available which make special moments even sweeter. One can offer his favorite sweets, cakes, dolls, cookies and bouquets as Diwali gifts to the loved ones or can gift mouth-watering varieties of traditional Indian sweets.

People even buy new gifts for the newlyweds. Diwali is traditionally a time that the newlyweds come to their inlaws, in particular the newlyweds go to the bride's family home to collect gifts, including relatively inexpesive gifts from sweets and clothes to very expensive gifts like gold, cars and even land and property.

Authentic and auspicious Diwali gifts include candles and candle holders, spun glass, divine gifts, collections, sculptures, patchwork, and jewelry. Household products can include wall hangings, home and office decor products featuring clocks, bookends, plaques and more. Kitchen products and many other household items also forms popular Diwali gifts.

Gift giving seems to be of utmost importance on the occasion of Diwali as it is a way of communicating respect, friendship, and appreciation. Gifts need not be extravagant; downplaying the importance of your gift actually conveys the message that the relationship is more important than the gift.

LAKSHMI PUJA

Lakshmi-Puja is performed in the evenings when tiny diyas of clay are lighted to drive away the shadows of evil spirits, devotional songs- in praise of Goddess Laxmi are sung and Naivedya of traditional sweets is offered to the Goddess. There is a peculiar custom in Maharashtra to lightly pound dry coriander seeds with jaggery and offer as Naivedya In villages cattle are adorned and worshiped by farmers as they form the main source of their income. In south cows are offered special veneration as they are supposed to be the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi and therefore they are adorned and worshiped on this day.

Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped in every Hindu household. In many Hindu homes it is a custom for the wife to put the red tilak on the forehead of her husband, garland him and do his "Aarti" with a prayer for his long life. In appreciation of all the tender care that the wife showers on him, the husband gives her a costly gift. This Gudi Padwa is symbolic of love and devotion between the wife and husband. On this day newly married daughters with their husbands are invited for special meals and given presents. Diwali celebration is a very happy occasion for all.