Desperately Looking For Haldi Kumkum Gift Ideas? Here Is The Quirkiest List Of Gifts For Your Lovely Ladies!

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With a fine and highly informative background on the auspicious festival of Haldi kumkum sketched for you right below, you are all sorted for the big day. All you married women will love the fabulous range of Haldi kumkum gift ideas with a mix of quirk and aesthetics. So whether you have been worried about the ancient traditions attached to the festival or (obviously) about finding the perfect Haldi kumkum gift ideas, you are officially sorted!

A. What is Haldi Kumkum?

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One of the initial Hindu festivals of the year is the auspicious and much-awaited festival of Haldi Kumkum, post-Makar Sankranti, celebrated (majorly) in the western sections of the country. The time and date vary with states and the respective traditions of the state.  The combination of turmeric and vermilion is considered to be highly fortunate, as a result, the ingredients are a part of multiple Indian traditions and rituals. Both Haldi and kumkum are symbolic of blessings for marriage and broadly of marital bliss (the Haldi ceremony and Sindoor would make a lot more sense now).

Married women gather during this auspicious period generally stretching till February and exchange Haldi kumkum along with several little but useful gifts. Initiated by the Peshwa women, the tradition has come a long way, narrating a tale of liberation for women coming forward with their wishes and for their freedom.  The primary states which are known to celebrate this festival include Maharashtra (primarily), Goa, Gujarat and even Rajasthan.

B. Broadly which traditions are followed in a Haldi Kumkum ceremony?

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The auspicious ceremony celebrating married women (followed by their husband’s long-life) has a few pointers which are common to every Haldi kumkum celebration (broadly in a Maharashtrian household).

• Lots and lots of sweets made up of the base combo of Gud (jaggery) and Til (sesame seeds) are prepared to grace the occasion.
• Sprinkling fragrant and fresh rose water over one-another is a part of the list of traditions.
• Applying attar (a kind of perfume) on your arms or necks is another ritual of the Haldi kumkum celebration.
• A set of pre-listed things gifted to the fellow married women include one Til-Gud sweet, one coconut and a lovely flower.
• The most exciting part of the exchange is a little gift which is mandatory for everyone to give/take. Deciding gifts for your lovely gang which are as useful as they are unique can be a task in itself. So here is a list of the most quirky Haldi kumkum gift ideas for your lovely group of ladies which adds a modern twist to the traditional festival.

C. Haldi Kumkum gift ideas which are guaranteed to be a hit at the ceremony

1. Handmade Red Bangles

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Listing out all the possible Haldi kumkum gift ideas and not featuring red bangles is a complete no-no! Red bangles are something that are the prime signifiers of a married woman and her Suhaag, so nothing can go wrong with this choice of gift. The lovely red bangles/Kadas in delicate silk thread, laden with minute beads or big mirrors make for a perfect gift for a married lady.

The best part about this option under the Haldi kumkum gift ideas is that you can always decide the bangle thickness and number as per the preferences of the woman you are willing to gift. A pair of thick handmade Kadas like the ones capping the set in the picture is ideal for more middle-aged women. You can buy a whole dozen of thinner ones for a newly married member of the group.

2. The Traditional Maharashtrian Nath

Image Courtesy: APS Jewellers

Being a more popular festival among women of Maharashtra, a Maharashtrian Nath (elongated nose ring with beads and stones) to accompany the fabulous traditional Maharashtrian saree is one of the aptest Haldi kumkum gift ideas. Get one little beauty each for all the lovely ladies and wear it together and get clicked like a group full of sass queens! What a fantastic memory can that picture be, “Just imagine”(totally imitating Geet from Jab We Met)!

Do not forget to take a mix of pierced Naths and the clip-on ones considering the number of women who have a pierced nose and the ones who don’t. After all, an extension of tradition is never a bad idea. Make it a ritual to wear it together on Haldi kumkum every year. Even if you aren’t hosting one in Maharashtra, a celebration of the Indian diversity can never harm anybody.

3. Pretty Handmade Coasters

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An emphasis on handmade stuff and buying things from small sellers is something I have chosen deliberately for Haldi kumkum gift ideas. Such an auspicious festival celebrating women’s freedom and togetherness on a whole must be topped with the inclusion of individual sellers, of women making and selling handmade stuff from home and of similar workers looking for work. With a pure thought in mind, go for such lovely handmade coasters for the Haldi kumkum gift ideas.

Such coasters made with love not only add to the beauty and purity of the festival but also live up to the age-old tradition of Haldi kumkum gifts which claim that the given gifts must be useful at home or in kitchen. The coasters become ideal for the ultimate Haldi kumkum gift ideas. The funky colours definitely add to their quirk quotient.

4. Vintage Kumkum Boxes

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Women today are definitely collectors of vintage items and antique pieces. The growing love of tribal and abstract art makes these vintage kumkum boxes a list topper for Haldi kumkum gift ideas. The tiny ones holding the ultimate ‘Suhaag ki Nishaani’ for your gang is hands down one of the most thoughtful gifts. The rare design makes it a piece of art in itself.

Apart from defining a rich sense of aesthetics, the tiny ones are going to be a prized possession for your beloved friend. Coming together once in a year and exchanging such thoughtful and artistic gifts make it an extremely special occasion to look forward to. Don’t hesitate before adding that artistic touch to your gift list!

5. The Quirky Sanitary Napkin Holder

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This one is hands down the quirkiest of all Haldi kumkum gift ideas. Be it a quirk, thoughtfulness, usability for a woman or any other parameter under the sky, this little one meant for all your outings is the perfect one under the Haldi kumkum gift ideas. You can get such made on orders, make on yourself if you are artistic enough or buy from such fab websites.

Spreading a message of owning your body, breaking menstruation taboos and finding a way of accepting it with this cute little addition to handbags is definitely going to make it the perfect one among Haldi kumkum gift ideas. The pretty bird pattern full of colours add a truckload of cuteness to the holder and the base colour being black, makes it an evergreen gift. Bid adieu to the sanitary napkins getting lost in their purses with this thoughtful gift.

6. The Mor Haldi Kumkum Plate

Image Courtesy: Prachi Poppy Petals

With a neverending variety of kumkum boxes doing rounds on Instagram, the list of Haldi kumkum gift ideas got to have a variety of Haldi kumkum plates. The Mor (Peacock) on the pooja plate is for the craft-loving women on your Haldi kumkum celebration guest list. The lovely plate topped with a peacock is just another gift competing amidst the quirkiest Haldi kumkum gift ideas.

Depending on your budget and taste, you may go for the silver or non-silver variant of the peacock beauty. Anyway, this lovely piece of the gift is going to steal hearts at your Haldi kumkum and will definitely raise the bar for pooja setups of your fab female group of married women. What better style to store Sindoor?

7. Handmade Colourful Potli

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A Potli is another very interesting gift on the list of Haldi kumkum gift ideas, by the virtue of being associated with the Indian aesthetic. A Potli usually adds an earthy touch to your look, drifting you away from the materialistic pursuits. Choose a lightly embroidered one if you like or go for beaded ones if the Potlis are being curated with love and not greed.

The Potlis are surely one among the most popular Haldi kumkum gift ideas which have been prevalent in a lot of households celebrating Haldi kumkum for years together. It will be an added benefit to your karma (as a citizen) if you go for an upcycled cloth Potli which is less luxurious and more worthy! What do you say?

8. The Antique Majestic Holder

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The fabulous list of Haldi kumkum gift ideas cannot end without another kumkum container at any cost. Another way in which you can make a memorable contribution to the list of antique collectables of your girlfriends coming over for Haldi kumkum is by gifting them this majestic piece of breathtaking beauty.

This majestic piece of art is exactly the gift that symbolises the grace, the history, the magnificent details and the charm that one associates with the Indian history and traditions. Such an empowering festival which comes once in a year, calls for an exchange of such gifts. If budget is not your problem this Haldi kumkum, then let this one steal the show for Haldi kumkum gift ideas.

With anything and everything ranging from handmade gifts to majestic gifts, thoughtful gifts to useful gifts, quirky gifts to traditional gifts listed right in one place for you, Haldi kumkum gift ideas should not be on your search list anymore. With your 101 guides to Haldi kumkum gift ideas and overall insights of the traditional Hindu festival right at your disposal, the lovely day is going to be a definite hit! All the lovely women reading this, better stop worrying about what to give, let’s start thinking of what all can we receive, after all, there is no age to be excited about gifts, is it?

Tell us your most favourite Haldi kumkum gift till date in the comments below.