In its special Diwali gifting series, The Mint focused on families giving away some unique Diwali gifts for friends and relatives. Anindita Ghose in an essay made mention of such off-beat gifting ideas. 

“What do you gift those who almost have everything they might need?” the writer asked, referring to the Sharmas - Jyotsana and Arjun – who decided to buy potted basil plants in lemon, camphor and tulsi varieties as Diwali gifts.

Their festive gifting plans reflect the austerity debate. But for them it’s more a practical option since the two increasingly find extravagant gifting a pointless exercise. Jyotsana testifies to the undesirable phenomenon of gift recycling. One gift she would though, never pass on is an orchid a friend gifted her. Nurturing it has become an engaging experience, which is why she chose to the green gifting idea.

She approached a local herb store to source their plants from a wide range of medicinal and exotic herbs. The couple opted for basil for its sociological ties with Indian tradition. In fact, the family has almost done away with the whole concept of gifting since the last couple of years. Instead it donates to charitable foundation.

Diwali is an occasion that prompts more donations, which would go to each family member’s chosen charity. Arjun supports Chintan, an NGO that is part of Project Arman. His mother, a doctor by profession, manages a charitable dispensary. Wife Jyotsana supports two animal shelters. A foundation named after Arjun’s father funds a hospital, temple and school in their native village. Every year, the dotting donors throw a party for the rag picking children after Diwali.

Instead of lavish gifting, the family tries to revive the tradition of get-togethers to strengthen the bonds of love. The message here is that, you can celebrate Diwali not just by splurging, but also by donating to charities, and going green. 

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With rains the air, chirpy children are back to school. It’s that time the year to meet old classmates, to study, to shop for books, notebooks and other accessories. If you rewind back to your childhood days, college and school reopening has a charm of its own. As you would recount, making new friends, uniting with old classmates, it’s all fun! Schools have already opened up and colleges will start soon. SSC and HSC students are waiting for their respective admission formalities to be completed.

If you want to strike a bond with a family friend, relative or office colleagues having school or college going children, there can be no perfect occasion than this to give a meaningful and useful gift. You can convert them into exciting gifts for children, and make them happy.

Buying new uniforms, shoes, water bottles, raincoat…the list is endless. Why do make all these a mere routine purchase? Get something for children, which will put a twinkle in their eyes and will bring a smile on their faces! After all, gifting is about spreading happiness, isn’t it? Here are some ideas to help you in making your choice.

• There are unique umbrellas and raincoats specially designed for children and in colors that delight children of all ages. To wade through monsoon waters, you can get specially designed cute umbrellas for little ones.
• Erasers in the shape of Tweetie and Bugs Bunny, water bottles shaped like Winnie-the-Pooh will certainly fascinate the children.
• Fancy lunch boxes will be another good pick. With varieties galore and so much choice, buying a gift for children will be a pleasure in itself.
• Several brands, such as Camlin, ITC, Crayola, Apsara, Sundaram, Maped and Pidilite are leaders in the school products range.

You can only add to the fun by giving some interesting and timely gifts.

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We pointed out in our previous blog how Sachin Tendulkar was excited at the mention of his favorite gifts. According to him, the greeting cards his kids made for him were very special.

Your child might well have received some interesting gifts on their birthday. But how much you do you spend to conceive a return-gift idea on your child’s birthday? Let us check some interesting birthday return gift ideas.

A child’s birthday party is not only about the candles, musical chairs, cakes etc. It is also about nice return gifts for a child. The off-beat take-home tokens remain an integral part of the birthday celebration. Most children indeed look forward to the goodies. If they do not get any, they are disappointed.

Birthday party planners mention that often parents choose to outsource birthday party. However, but they are keen on doing their own return gifts. Their advice to the parents is avoid deviating from the basic party theme and not to treat return gifts as the least priority on their list or else they will end up getting the wrong things.

Also, spending huge money is not the way. Your gift will stand out if it is unique, and not costly. Think what the child’s friends would like take away and make the birthday party gift a memorable one. You should give back gifts that are related to their interest.

According to professional children’s party organizers, the moment ones gets a child involved in the act of decorating or working out a return gift idea, it becomes more compelling and meaningful. They advise parents to plan some activity leading to a birthday party return gift.

One example is planting and nurturing trees will make children aware of nature.  

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The immense popularity of Disney soft toys knows no barriers of age, region or gender. Disney characters bring smiles on our faces; they make us feel relaxed and also appeal to our senses.

All our favorite Disney characters are available under The Disney Animal Friends series. The eternal characters are the best buddies of children during their formative years; it’s like a dream fulfilled having them with you - either as a showpiece or as a plaything! Shaped into adorable soft toys, the Disney Animal Friends make a deft decorative piece to treasure. They will make a perfect gift not only for children but also for adults.

Disney’s Animal Friends - a soft toy range - comprises popular characters, Baloo, Sher Khan and Dumbo. The Disney gang toy series is sure to be loved as a gift. Incidentally, of all the various shapes given to the Disney characters, the sizzling soft toys have been the most popular.

If you’re looking to give something exquisite, elegant for a special occasion gifting, Disney soft toys can be the best choice for you. Disney has different varieties of their soft toys based on their most famous characters. Here are some of them to make a cut gift:

Donald Duck: The animal character debuted in a cartoon in 1934. Despite his fiery temper, he became popular with audiences. Hot-headed Donald is a little character in a big world trying to suppress him.

Dumbo: (sitting and trumpeting): Often taunted for his enormous ears, the little elephant is too naïve to realize what the laughter is about, yet old enough to follow that it’s targeted at him.

Bambi: This wobbly legged fawn will someday inherit the title of ‘Great Prince of the Forest’. His mother teaches him the secrets of survival.

Sher Khan: Disneyland Jungle Book Villain Sher Khan – the tiger – is a feared yet popular Disney character.

Disney soft toys as gifts are an apt expression of your feelings. 

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In the previous posting, we explained to you how gifting can be extremely helpful in tax planning. We now understand the finer aspects of this. People are worried that, the income from the source that contributed to the gifts would get ultimately clubbed in their hands. Some are even concerned about attracting a gift tax.

One should know that gift tax has been terminated since October 1, 1998. There are no worries over attracting any gift tax. Clubbing provisions will come into play in case of gifts to minor children and spouse. Major (above 18) family members (barring spouse) can be gifted any amount of money freely without the donor falling into the clubbing net.

However, there has to be clarity regarding the procedure and whether it is required to make a gift deed on a valid stamp paper. Generally, it is better to make a gift deed and have it registered (with due stamp duty). Such a step is only necessary for making high-value gifts like real estate.

For other ‘tax-free’ gifting transactions, all a donor needs to do is make a gift and the acceptance of the same by the recipient. In simple terms, the donor can make the gift and the recipient should accept it in writing (even a thank you note will do). Once this is done, it be would considered a gift. Preferably, mention the relationship between the recipient and the donor. Both sides concerned should retain this formal document for ready reference if and when needed.

Some people are worried over the fact that making a gift to parents may make it mandatory of the latter to file a return. Well, the purpose of this exercise is that the income from the gift should not lead to any taxable income.

Hence, care should be taken to make sure that the income made from the gifted amount does not take your parents’ income above the taxable level. Ideally, consult an expert to avoid any confusion!

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Gifts give a great joy, it goes without saying. They convey your emotions to the receiver, who in turn, appreciates your sentiments. Gifts enhance relations and strengthen bonds of love. But gifts also serve a practical purpose when it comes to financial planning. You may wish to know. Let me bring to your notice that gifts can serve as a simple albeit very effective tax planning tool.

The provisions of Section 56, relating to tax on gifts, along with the basic exemption limit provisions to make your income is tax-free are applied simultaneously, to ensure tax-free income.

An individual falling in a higher tax bracket, can manage to cut down on the tax liability and increase his or her capital into tax-free income through gifts. This is essentially made possible by tax planners.

The method they follow is to make a person give gifts from post-tax capital to the parents and major children, who mostly are non-taxpayers. To double the benefit, when the recipients of these gifts invest the same, the family can earn more tax-free income.

Of course, there are certain issues, precautions and clarifications that you need to seek from your tax consultant who will address all these aspects so that you are able to put this gainful tax planning strategy through gifting into practice.

In a nutshell, gifts given to your parents and children (above 18) will not invite clubbing provisions. We shall learn about the finer aspects of tax planning and gifting in the subsequent blogs.

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Who doesn’t like cookies? They are the perfect choice for someone who wishes to tantalize one’s taste buds and do away with those hunger pangs. One can get several choices for presenting cookies in a fun gift packing.

Cookies are among the most popular gifting items - synonymous with the Christmas celebrations as much as a cute Christmas tree or gorgeous golden bells. When wrapped in a wonderful box, they make a meaningful gift for your boss, friend or your colleague, to go with the spirit of this unique festival.

There are many quality brands that have a wide variety on offer, ranging from the more traditional crispy, crunchy cookies to the indulgent mouth watering cool chocolate dipped cookies, luscious creamy cookies, savory salty Cookies and even customized cookies.

For this season, take your pick from delightful stockings or jute bags, brightly wrapped gift boxes adorned with Santa, mistletoe, stockings and everything else that enhances the Christmas mood, filled with the choicest cookies in tantalizing flavours that include Chocolate, Coffee, Brandy, Honey, Coconut, Ginger and a lot more.

Most of these cookie packs are well within budget. At any of the leading malls in your city, the mega cookie gifts are available to make your near and dear ones happy. You can get a beautifully crafted cane hamper comprising mouth watering, melting chocolates, a selection of premium dry fruits, a pair of champagne glasses and other goodies. There are elegant photo frames and gifts galore!

There is something on offer for everyone on the Christmas eve including Chocolates and plum cakes specially created for the season. In addition, many malls run special Christmas programs and promotional offers. Children get an opportunity to meet and sing along with a lifelike Santa Claus at his jovial best. It is time to catch up with the Santa spirit!

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Santa Claus is an icon of peace, joy and happiness, who enlivens our minds and hearts. He lives in the hearts of those who believe in virtues of giving and spreading happiness. Hence, gifting is something that is closely associated with the festival of Christmas.

Traditionally, Saint Nicholas was depicted as an imposing, tall, dignified ecclesiastical figure riding a white horse, dressed in red robes trimmed with white fur, worn by bishops, placing gifts of nuts, fruit, candy and small figurines on the hearth.

The popular and distinctive image of Santa was further developed from literary descriptions by novelist Washington Irving and poet Clement Clarke Moore and the fanciful drawings of poet and illustrator, Thomas Nast. In his drawings, Nast has depicted Santa as a delightful and jolly elf with a potbelly, and a bagfull of gifts slung on his shoulder.

In his poem, ‘A Visit by Saint Nicholas’, Nast has gives a detailed description of a happy, old, dwarfish man, riding on a sleigh drawn by eight reindeer, whose names are specified as Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen, respectively.

The present adorable personality of the North American Santa Claus, which took shape in the 19th Century, was that of a chubby, bespectacled elf, dressed in bright red. Father Christmas, Befana or even Kringler, Baboushka, Santa has spread cheer, joy and warmth in every form and under every garb. And that makes him a key figure in religious history, who carries a touch of benevolence.

But Reindeer are not found around the North Pole, so how do they figure in German, Dutch and North American legends? Actually, this was the brainchild of Clement Moore. One evening, while riding back home from New York City, he was inspired by the tinkling of bells on old Dobbin, his donkey and there flashed an idea for a Christmas tide verse for his children! Another explanation could be that German legends and mythology are closely related to those of Scandinavia, a Polar region.

Christmas is the time to rejoice with Santa, the Patron of Giving, and Giving sure is a noble gesture.

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As Christmas approaches, Santa Claus is eagerly awaited by children and so also the goodies and gifts he brings along.

It is interesting to note that the popular view of Santa we all have today - with the sleigh, the reindeer and the chimney – was derived largely from Clement Moore’s ‘The Night Before Christmas’, the 1822 book, further reinforced further by an advertising campaign.

The Santa Claus story combined with the modern retailing phenomena and consumer culture has grown since the turn of the century to make gift-giving an integral element of the Christmas celebrations. Incidentally, there was no elaborate exchanging of gifts until late 1800’s.

The Christmas tree – apparently a German tradition – began in the early 700AD century. The tradition of a Christmas Tree gradually moved to the UK and US. Since Victorian times, people had been decorating trees with candies and cakes hung with ribbon, ornaments and candles. The first electrically lighted Christmas tree appeared in 1882. Mistletoe, representing the goddess of love (Frigga - Scandinavian), was used as a decoration in houses for thousands of years and is also associated with many pagan rituals.

The 12 days of Chistmas are the ones that separate Christmas day (December 25) from Epiphany celebrated on January 6, marking Christ’s baptism (the Catholic tradition) or the day when the wise men visited baby Jesus with their gifts. This includes great fanfare and singing. The Anglo-Saxon tradition revolved around gathering together for small, serene choirs on the scenic village green lawns to sing carols and popular Christmas songs that would entertain and please the passers-by.

This joyous festival truly enlivens our hearts with warm revelry that extends well into the new year! Gift your near and dear ones, the little children, your friends and colleagues to spread the joy of Christmas.

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This is a fun event for children to which you can take your children and bring a smile on their faces. Apart from gifting children toys and games, this is one way of making them happy, in a quality way.

Bookaroo, the children’s literature festival, will happen in New Delhi (22nd and 23rd November, 2008 at Sanskriti Anand Gram on Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road).

Here are the events that form part of the festival
- Listen to stories
- Dramatix
- Rhyme time
- Comics
- Interactive buzz
- Graffiti
- Glum peacocks
- Magic pencil
 
Choose your event/s and register now! You may check the possibility of holding a similar event in your city by sending a mail to info@bookaroo.in 

The Bookaroo Festival kicks off with an outreach program on November 19th and 20th. It will give children a chance to meet famous Indian and international authors, poets, and illustrators. The aim of the festival is to expose children to the hidden joys of reading. This is truly a one-of-its-kind event, which focuses on the role books play in shaping children’s thinking and lives. The interactive sessions will comprise workshops, plays, comics, storytelling, games and lessons in creativity.

For instance, Sampurna Chattarji, Kalpish Ratna and Ishrat Syed will present ‘Panchatantra in Wonderland’. These animal fables are an invariable part of our literary and social heritage, but what do they really mean in today’s world? Here a modern twist is given to the classic tales.

According to Anita Roy, one of the organizers, the Bookaroo Festival is all about bringing together children with those who actually pen the books they love so much. She adds: “It is about celebrating the world of children’s book writing and literature in all its marvelous variety.”

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