The 20 Best Diwali Gifts of 2024, According to Someone Who's Been Celebrating for Decades
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17/10/2024 00:15
Including affordable beauty, home, and even Indian-inspired food products
People / Amazon (2); Nordstrom (2)
While many people think about Thanksgiving or Black Friday as the start of the holiday season in the United States, it starts a lot earlier for many communities.
I'm Indian, so my family has always celebrated Diwali, the festival of lights and celebration of good triumphing over evil, in late October or early November. I've already begun indulging in my favorite cheesy Bollywood movies while sipping on hot chai with my family. And while being a shopping editor is a total dream job, it also means that my family has incredibly high expectations for the gifts I get them (it's a lot of pressure — thanks, mom!).
When is Diwali 2024?
This year, Diwali will be celebrated on October 31.
I'm eyeing a Cuyana bag for my little sister, a Dagne Dover diaper bag for my brother-in-law, and some fun Diwali decorations as an early gift to my mom. I included some beloved PEOPLE Tested picks and even consulted my mom, sisters (who are even pickier than I am), and brother to see what's on their wishlists, too.
Ranavat Royal Trio Bestsellers Set
Ranavat's hair and skin products are always my favorite to reach for. While I get to indulge in the luxe products — inspired by the Ayurvedic rituals of Indian royalty — daily, I'm looking forward to sharing the wealth with my sisters this year. This set of bestsellers features a hair serum (which I admittedly use all over my body thanks to the rich jasmine scent), brightening face serum, and moisturizer. You're getting $80 worth of products for just $55, so if you haven't tried the brand for yourself, now's your chance to gift it to yourself.
Nordstrom Cashmere Turtleneck Sweater
For your chic bestie or cool aunt, a cashmere sweater is a failsafe pick, but I especially love this one because it's reasonably priced for the quality. I reach for mine at night when I'm cozying up on the couch, but I also love pairing it with a skirt and some riding boots for a more stylish outfit.
Indotribe Diwali Diyas
Diyas are small tea light holders made of clay, and since Diwali is the festival of lights, there are always dozens of them in my family's home every year for the weeks leading up to the holiday. I'm stocking up on some for my own apartment, but I'm also going to ship my mom and sisters a bag before the holiday. Don't forget the tea lights!
Yadoker Plant Grow Light
If you've got a plant parent in the family, the good news is there's a gift you can buy that doesn't require you to have any knowledge of the topic or semblance of a green thumb. And if you're not familiar with plant life at all, allow me to explain: Plants need sunlight to grow, and until we learn how to control the weather, one of your loved ones will seriously appreciate this plant light that looks totally chic. It has an adjustable height, ten levels of brightness, an automatic on/off timer, and 13-foot-long cord.
Papa's Butter Chicken: A celebration of family and community
I'm single and childless, but I've always hoarded children's books for the day I get to read them to my own kids. Until then, I'm babysitting my two and five year-old nephews as frequently as my sister will allow. I didn't have any children's books featuring kids who looked like me when I was their age, so you can bet this is going to be my go-to bedtime book for them. This heart-warming story is about a young girl named Monica who bonds with her father while helping him make his famous butter chicken. Anyone else hungry?
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
This has been on my sister's wishlist for years, especially since the set includes five different attachments. It doesn't just dry hair; it smooths and diffuses while adding shine — there's even a specific attachment that targets flyaways in one single pass. She always borrows mine when she comes to visit me, and loves using it on her curly hair, so I'm excited to finally give her one.
Ugg Whitecap Faux Fur Throw Blanket
I start every morning with three things: tea, meditation, and journaling. During the warmer months, the sunshine sufficiently propels me out of bed, but that's proving to be more difficult as temperatures drop. That's why I've been reaching for my faux fur Ugg throw that's just as soft as the brand's boots are. For less than $100, this blanket is a no-brainer gift for anyone who could use a little extra warmth this season — especially for my relatives in Canada.
Papier Hardcover 2025 Weekly Planner
As someone who's been using a paper planner for 16 years, I know a good planner when I see one, so I was floored to find that this customizable one from my favorite stationery brand, Papier, is just $36. Behind its fun exterior (that'll feature your giftee's name) is a weekly, monthly, and yearly overview along with places to list goals, important dates, and to-do tasks. Despite all that it includes, its compact size easily slips into any tote bag.
Birkenstock Women's Arizona Soft Footbed Sandal
These cuddly Birkenstock slippers are suitable for indoor and outdoor wear, making them a go-to for movie marathons and grocery store runs alike. A suede exterior, flexible cork footbed, and shearling interior give this pair the cozy, cloud-like comfort that gives Birkenstock the outstanding reputation it has.
Nécessaire The Hand Duo Set
We all know people who are impossible to shop for; for me, that's my cousin and my uncle. After lending them some of my Nécessaire hand cream (which they loved) a few months ago, I've decided to buy this set and divide each cream into their gift bags. The rich, yet lightweight, formula is universally loved.
Cozy Earth Women's Bamboo Jogger Pant
This essential looks like any traditional pair of joggers, but it's made with a silky soft bamboo viscose. This was one of the best pairs of women's joggers we tested, and it comes from Oprah-favorite brand, Cozy Earth. And while I may not be Oprah, for what it's worth, the brand is also one of my all-time favorites. I swear by its sheets and pillows and get compliments every time I have guests over.
Kayali Vacation In a Bottle Perfume Set
I'm frequently being gifted fragrances, and while I consider myself extremely lucky, it's also made me very picky. The rich, sexy scents from Kayali have become some of my holy grail fragrances. I keep one of the minis in my purse at all times, so I plan on taking this set and dividing it into several gift bags for my mom, sisters, and a couple best friends. These aren't your typical mini samples you pick up at the mall — the jeweled caps mirror traditional Middle Eastern oud bottles, so rest assured that your loved ones will proudly display these on their vanities.
La Mer The Winter Wonders Renewal Set
While my bathroom is filled to the brim with skincare products, I'm admittedly a bit possessive about sharing them, like this kit from one of the most luxurious and prestigious skincare brands out there. It includes a rich cream, lightweight lotion, indulgent oil, and soothing serum in a chic velvet, branded pouch — all for just under $100.
Amazon Basics 500-Watt Ceramic Small Space Personal Mini Heater
I've spent many uncomfortable dinners across from my couple friends arguing about the temperature preferences in their home. So, in an effort to bring some peace into my older sister's life, I'll be giving her this space heater. Its power, despite its small size and low price tag, made it one of our best-tested space heaters.
Cuyana Mini Double Loop Bag
I'll never stop praising the magic in Cuyana's bags. I'm not sure what the brand uses to treat their Turkish leather, but every accessory I've had looks and feels just as expensive as any high-end designer bag I've seen (they look even better in my opinion). This crossbody bag is unique because it's just a tiny bit larger than your typical crossbody, so I can't wait to gift it to my little sister.
Celeb Favorite
Jessica Alba and Meghan Markle have been spotted in Cuyana bags. Markle even gave her baby shower guests Cuyana totes filled with goodies as a thank you.
Lilysilk Mulberry Silk Pajama Set
Lilysilk is known for its top-quality, ultra-comfy silk staples that are timeless, and I already own two pairs of these pajamas myself. I'm going to order one set each for my mom and aunt because these are just so soft. The set comes in 11 colors, but red is the perfect color for Diwali — in India, red symbolizes good luck and prosperity.
Shark Navigator Freestyle Cordless Upright Vacuum
I know that vacuums aren't the most cutting-edge gift, but it's a welcome treat for that family member who's obsessed with cleaning. For me, that's my dad, and I just know that he'll love how easy it is to use this vacuum. This was one of PEOPLE Tested's best lightweight vacuums, because our testers loved that the swivel steering made it easy to maneuver. It effectively picked up pet hair, too.
Dagne Dover Indi Neoprene Diaper Backpack
I swear by Dagne Dover's neoprene collection for travel, and their Indi Neoprene Diaper Bag is one of the brand's best-sellers. While I have some time until I'll be buying one of these for myself, I'm getting one for my brother-in-law in the meantime. The laid-back style easily clips to a stroller, and it has a plethora of interior and exterior pockets to keep things organized. It weighs just three pounds and comes with its own wipeable changing mat.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
I've been looking for an upgrade to my old, scratched-up Kindle for some time now, and this best-seller with more than 52,000 five-star ratings is it. Complete with 10 weeks of battery life, a glare-free display, and 20 percent faster page turns than previous iterations, this is exactly what I need to hit the lofty reading goals I'm going to set for myself in 2025.
Raas Shimmer Sky Blue Tiered Skirt with Blouse and Dupatta
The reality of being Indian in the United States is that there are very few options available to shop for traditional garb. Even If you're lucky enough to live near an Indian clothing store, your options are severely limited. But with the launch of Indian fashion house, Raas, at Macy's, I actually can't stop thinking of how many fashionable styles I want to add to my cart. One of my aunts has been complaining about not having enough cute Indian clothes, so I'm excited to gift her this shimmery outfit. She can sport it year-round to Diwali events, weddings, and the lavish dinner parties she enjoys throwing.
Vince Wool & Cashmere Travel Set
My top hack for buying gifts that look more expensive than they really are? Shopping for sets that have way better value than if you buy items separately. One of my favorites is this cashmere set from Vince, featuring socks, an eye mask, and a throw blanket — it makes a great gift for the jetsetter in your life.
Why Trust PEOPLE?
Neha Tandon is a shopping editor at PEOPLE, covering beauty, style, home, travel, and other lifestyle topics. She has been celebrating Diwali her entire life and has been curating gift guides for the last five years.
For this article, she started by listing giftable products that she owns and can vouch for the quality. She also added top-rated items from popular brands she has tried firsthand. Additional products have been featured in PEOPLE Tested articles, too, so we know they're a great value. This season, she's especially excited about purchasing the highly-rated Dagne Dover Indi Neoprene Diaper Backpack for her siblings who have small children.
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