5 unique gift ideas for Haldi Kumkum on Makar Sankranti

According to Hindu religion Makar Sankrant is the name given because
1) Makar - the sun moves to the makar (Capricorn) rashi. This is the only festival in India which is celebrated on the suns position, and hence it comes almost on the same day every year i.e. 14th January, except for some years where it may shift by a day.
2) Sankrant - A devi named Sankranti killed an evil power Shankarasur and so the name Sankrant.

Kai-po-che are the words we hear when a kite is cut by another kite. Many songs like dhil de de de re.. de de re bhaiya iss patang ko dhil de... are made on makar sankrant festival. Kites flying high, cold breeze and tilgul are the images that flash in front of our eyes when we hear about this festival. Tilgul is made up of til and since they are hot in nature it is distributed in this winter season through this festival by saying tilgul ghya god god bola. This is the harvesting time in India. and so married women fill a small red and black pot popularly known as sugadi with pieces of sugarcane, indian plums (boar), fresh green chicpeas (harbhara) and tilgul laddu. They carryout pooja of 5 such sugadis and give it either to 5 other married women or offer it in temples.

Women also have a traditional haldi kumkum celebration where women are invited and haldi kumkum, attar and flowers are given. apart from this a special gift called as vaan is also given to the ladies. This tradition was started with a purpose to get the ladies have a get together and give and take new variety of things. Although traditional, it is still followed by young women and they have varied styles in it. Trains are a best example of this tradition. You can see many women wearing black dresses, sarees and tops on this specific day. Not only women but college girls also become part of this dressing tradition. Women usually call other women to their place of residence for the haldi kumkum ceremony, but in Mumbai & Pune where women are working have their groups in trains and buses and they also celebrate haldi kumkum in transport while they are travelling. So the special gift is the major factor which adds spice to this haldi kumkum ceremony.  women generally invite or give gifts to 15-30 women approximately and hence the gift cannot be costly. Hence everyone is in search of new, inexpensive (with upper limit of INR 50) and unique items for gifts. So in this blog I am going to suggest a few inexpensive gift ideas for haldi kumkum on makar sankrant.

5 unique Gift ideas for Haldi Kumkum

1. A Travel Kit

Everyone travels a lot and giving a small travel kit is a unique idea. you can make a set of small toothpaste (Rs. 5), toothbrush (Rs. 10), shampoo sachet (Re. 1), oil sachet (Re. 1), a small soap strip (Rs. 4), a small powder (Rs. 5), a small moisturizing cream (Rs. 10) and a small bathing soap (Rs. 5). You can bundle this up in a small paper bag or a plastic ziplock and paste a sticker naming TRAVEL KIT and your goodie bag is all ready to be gifted. You can skip or add any of the items and prepare the goddie as per your budget.

2. Pooja Sahitya

Be it any religion, pooja is offered by everyone in India and gifting "Pooja sahitya" i.e. items required for pooja can be bundled together and can become a unique & great idea for gift in haldi kumkum. Agarbatti (scented sticks) (Rs. 12-15), Small pouch of Camphor (Kapur) (Rs. 5), Vaat (cotton strings to put in lamp) (Rs. 5) and a match box (Re. 1). You can put this on a small plastic tray (Rs. 10) and the item of Pooja Sahitya is all set to be given as a Haldi kumkum gift. This will definitely attract praises on its way. 

3. Sandwich supplies or Pav bhaji supplies

Women are very much fond of cooking, and giving them ready the items required for a specific dish would be a pleasant idea of gift. for example, if you want to give sandwitch items then you can give a small butter packet (Rs. 5 to 6) , a single cheese cube (Rs. 10) a small tomato ketchup sachet (Re. 1) and a chaat masala packet or jaljeera whichever you find suitable (Rs. 2). Similarly you can think of various such food items of which you can make a small hamper and gift it for the haldikumkum.

4. Cosmetic set

Women are considered to be the symbol of beauty and in order to maintain and enhance their beauty a lot of  items are required. You can take a particular section amongst it and gift the items. For example you can gift pedicure kit, manicure kit, Nailpaints, Lipgloss, nail art designs, tatoos, various creams, face wash etc. You have enormous brands and rates and you can club any of these items and make a set.

5. Scents / Air purifiers/ room freshners

Being a women they are very particular about cleanliness, be it their own-selves or the rooms, toilets, devghar and hence pocket perfumes, room freshners, toilet purifiers, attar (ittar) can add fragrance to your haldi kumkum ceremony.

Hope you will try these unique gift ideas for your haldi kumkum ceremony and get applauses during makar sankranti from everyone. Do comment on how you found these ideas and even you can suggest a few to add up in this blog. Enjoy and wish you all a happy makar sankrant.