5 Best Personalized Photo Gifts

A gift that is a true reflection of the recipient and at the same time brings out your relationship with him or her is the perfect one. Some great ideas on gifts with a personal touch, Personalized Photo Gifts are showcased here.

Personalized Frames
Picture frames having your favourite photo and message designed with attractive backgrounds are a great Personalized Gift Idea. Adding to this beautiful background is the cheerful text and colourful illustrations. All this makes the end result a sure shot way of touching the recipient's heart.

Personalized Jewelry
It is no secret that all women and some men love being gifted jewelry. Thus, anyone would be extremely pleased with a customised gift idea that encompasses jewelry with a personal touch. Thus, gifts like pendants, bracelets, necklaces, anklets, earrings, rings are an apt personalised jewelry gift.

Home Decor Ideas
Another very sweet and adorable present is Personalized home decor ideas. The pillows, covers, sheets can have the name or initials or picture of the recipient in some form or presentation. This gift idea is popular across recipients and occasions as it can be modified as per the event or celebration.

Customized Stationary
If your special someone loves to read, write in his/her spare time, then a very good gift for them would be individualised stationary items. Some examples of the same are pens, holders or stands, calenders, diaries etc.


Personalized Photo Candles
These are a one in kind, a very unique gift idea. A beautiful personalised candle with pictures of your loved ones on it makes a nice gift for any occasion - or just for fun! The photo candles has a picture embedded inside the wax itself and the candle itself is non melting and long lasting.

Send Personalized Gifts to make every occasion a special and memorable one for your loved ones. There is no better gift than this graceful and thoughtful token of feelings of joy, happiness, love, companionship and more.

New Year Gifts - Send Flowers for a Magical Celebration

A very creative yet simple New Year day gift is a colourful and fragrant flower arrangement. You can pick these flowers yourself and arrange them into a flower vase, glass jar or even a basket. Choose from a range of add ons to your gift of blossoms like message balloons, pillows or soft toys. Write a Happy New Year note and place it within the sweet smelling flowers to be discovered by your recipient.

Another way of presenting flowers is when it adds beauty to many gifts in a gift basket. One of the most interesting yet inexpensive New Year gifts is a gift basket of Sweets, Cake and Chocolates. Even though these may be the main items in the goodies basket. But, this can be presented after being decorated with ribbons, laces or even a New Year 2011 card or a bouquet of flowers.



Coffee or cocoa, dry fruits, personalised gifts as mugs, candles with a picture of loved ones or with their initials on it can also be added to this gift basket. One can even add to this gift ideas as New Year decor like Surahis/Hukkas, Show Pieces, Paintings and/or Linen etc. Send flowers to loved ones with any such accompaniment, such a gift idea can never go wrong on this auspicious new beginning.

Gift Perfumes - A Universal Gifting Idea

In today's age, perfumes have become a must have accessory. Young or old, affluent or middle class, perfumes as a trend has become popular among all. It is now no longer a question of whether to buy or not, perfume is not a luxury anymore as it always has been.

The preferences of people though change with what suits their taste. Some among us are plain brand conscious, some others are drawn towards the natural oil aromas, for many it is just the fragrance that is the deciding factor. A perfume is an important part of our lifestyles, since it is a reflection of someone's personality. Also, we Gift Perfumes for a lasting and continued relationship, thus making it a great gifting idea as well.


Some designer perfume brands which are popular in terms of their universal appeal are.

Archies
Boucheron
Cacharel
Christian Dior
Chanel
Dolce and Gabbana
Calvin Klein
Burberry
Bvlgari
Perry Ellis
Ralph Lauren
Tommy Hilfiger
Gucci
Giorgio Armani
Givenchy

One of the best medium of doing shopping is the internet. Right from the amazing variety, selecting the right fragrance to the ease of payment and of delivery, everything makes this mode of gifting and shopping more and more popular with everyone. So, the answer to all gift shopping woes is to either send perfume online or to send online gifts across occasions.

Flowers - The Gift of All Seasons

If you give a bouquet of flowers it can have different colours in it and the only meaning that would be construed is that you appreciate, think of and care about your special someone. If in doubt over a gift, choose and send flowers, they are the most universal of all gifts. Some flower arrangements and combinations with other gifts are listed here.

Roses

Bouquet/Bunches

Baskets

Combos/Hampers

Cakes with Flowers

Designer/Unique

Serenades

Wine Hampers

Glass Vase Arrangements

Car Decor

Midnight Special

Send flowers to India and across the world and make every occasion a special and memorable one for your loved ones. There is no better gift than this delicate and fragrant token of heartfelt emotions.

Best Birthday Gift Ideas for All

A birthday is a very special time for all of us. It is an occasion that we all celebrate with lots of energy and enthusiasm. What makes for a successful birthday celebration are beautiful and thoughtful birthday gifts. Some popular, some exclusive and unique gift ideas are listed below.

Electronic Gadgets

Video Games

Grooming/Beauty Products

Apparel & Fashion

Birthday Gift Basket

Personalised Photo Gifts

Chocolates and Cakes

Soft Toys with Flowers

Jewelry with Jewelry Boxes

Accessories and Perfumes

Watches and Time Pieces

Birthday Gift Ideas of Experience

Christmas Gifts For The Lady in Your Life - Christmas 2010

Choosing a gift more in tune with the individuality of the receiver always works in the favor of the giver. Here are some christmas gifts that might help you in doing the same.

Clothes – Women love clothes. It makes them feel good about themselves. However, it is very easy to go wrong while buying clothes for women. To avoid making any mistakes, do keep in mind details like personal style, the size and body shape of the person.

Accessories – Accessories are things that complement a dress or a person's way of carrying themselves. There is a wide range of accessories which can be considered a gifting idea. From watches to handbags to scarves to eye wear, all of them can be a great gifting idea.

Jewelry – There are mainly three criteria that influence our choices in jewelry. The first one is the budget which influences the price range of the jewelry being bought. The second one which is also relative to your relationship with the person and your budget is the type of metal of which the jewelry is made. Therefore, the jewelry could be made of precious metals like Silver, Gold, Diamond or Platinum. Or, one could go in for artificial or semi precious to precious stone jewelry. The third criteria is the intricacy and detailing in the designing of jewelry.

Flowers – Flowers are the perfect gift, be it any occasion, and more so since they work best when it comes to expressing feelings and emotions. But, one should be careful in using them as an easy or a generalist gifting idea. It also helps when flowers are a thoughtful add on to a gift. One should be creative with flowers as a gift and thus avoid the impression of having oversimplified the gifting decision.

Holidays – Plan the perfect winter getaway for the women who give your life meaning and make it special. Make this festive season memorable for them with a day's excursion to the spa or an exclusive evening at a club. A longer well planned annual holiday or a couple of days' getaway is also a great idea as it will serve two purposes at one go. Pamper your loved ones and yourself and carry forward memories for a lifetime with this gifting idea.

Christmas 2010 is on 25 December, Saturday

Thanksgiving Day Celebrations

Thanksgiving Day is celebrated with a lot of joy and enthusiasm not only in US, Canada but other countries as well. It symbolises the feeling of gratitude, people's feeling towards God for bestowing His constant grace and love. More commonly it is celebrated to thank God for the bounty of autumn harvest.

The official thanksgiving day in USA is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November every year. People of Canada celebrate Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October every year. It is generally a "four-day" weekend in the United States.

Thanksgiving is traditionally celebrated with the customary 'feast' shared among friends and family. The traditional Turkey is the most important dish cooked in every house as part of the feast. Pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce and corn dishes also form a part of the family dinner. American football and parade is a yearly feature to mark the celebration of thanksgiving.

In a nutshell, Thanksgiving is all about loving, caring, sharing and communal harmony. It is all about being grateful to not only God but also your fellowmen. It is also about reaping the benefits of the year long hard work and struggle.

Bhaiya Dooj, Bhai Dooj, Bhai Phota, Bhai Teeka, Bhatri Ditya - A Beautiful Ritual

Bhaidooj is an occasion which is a sincere effort to pay tribute to the amazing bond of love between siblings. Bhai Duj comes from Bhaiya or Bhai which means brother and Dooj means second. The Bhaubeej festival falls on the second day after Diwali, or the second day of the new moon. Every year depending on the new moon, the date falls either in the month of October or November. Bhai Dooj 2010 will be celebrated on 7th November, Sunday.


Bhai Dooj Celebrations
The celebrations of Bhai dooj reflects the importance of unique cultural traditions that vary with different region of India. This helps to keep the family close and brings prosperity, well being and luck. Bhai Dooj falls on the two day after Diwali and is celebrated all over the country.

All the rituals and pooja held on this occasion are carried out on the Puja dias decorated for Diwali pooja. Sisters decorate their puja thali with mithai, batashas, roli, rice and the most important of all, coconut. After which every member of the family takes turns performing the puja. Brothers have to sit on a platform with a covered head and sisters sit in front of them. This is followed by the main ritual wherein sisters apply tikka on their brother's forehead and presents him with a coconut and some other delicacies and sweets.


Bhai Tikka or Bhai Teeka on Bhai Dooj Festival
Sisters express their love for their brother by applying a tilak on the forehead of their brothers. This red tilak or Bhai teeka represents the heartfelt wish of every sister for the safety and well being of her brothers from all evils. Brothers too convey their highest regards for their sister with Bhai Dooj gifts of her choice.

Auspicious Gift Ideas on Diwali Festival

With the ever increasing distances, Deepavali gifts are now an extended expression of best wishes shared between near and dear ones. There are many auspicious gift ideas that can be chosen for this occasion. Some of these popular Diwali gifts are discussed below.

Diwali Sweets - A perfect way to express your love or send best wishes is through sweets of different tastes adorned with beautiful packaging.

Diwali Puja Thali - An auspicious ‘Lakshmi-Ganesha’ pooja thali in a vareity of materials decked with flowers, golden gota, idols, katoris with roli chawal, diyas and many more.

Ganesha-Laxmi Gifts - Bring home this beautifying divinity and decorate your home with their gracious presence and blissful blessings.

Diwali Silver Gifts - Divine elegance crafted in pure silver and some such ideas of silver gifts are Thalis, Idols, Jewelry, Coins.

Deepawali Gold Gifts - Gold is a precious metal which is most easily associated with Deepavali festival. Any Diwali celebration is incomplete without gold based gift items.

Diwali Diyas / Diwali Candles – Earthen, Clay, Brass, White Metal, Silver are the most commonly used materials of which Diyas are made.

All these gifts or products are an inseparable part of this occasion and give an auspicious feel to the festival of lights, Deewali.

Flowers - The Most Alluring Gift of All

Love, Happiness, Remembrance, Congratulations, Best Wishes are just some of the emotions which flowers convey beautifully and with style. Flowers are the best expressions of the beauty of life. The answer of every gifting dilemma faced over times immemorial is flowers so much so that it is customary to send flowers for a birthday, anniversary, wedding and on other personal celebrations.

These are a gift idea accepted across cultures, countries and ethnicity, everyone associates with flowers very easily. This is the reason that even cultural celebrations are also incomplete without flowers. Native flower types may be more common but there are also the exotic blooms which may not be native to a culture or society but are gifted on or presented on or grace any event or occasion or festival.

Even the presentation of blossoms differs from place to place and the theme of any occasion. Bouquet / Bunches, Baskets, Combos / Hampers, Serenades, Designer / Unique are just some of the ideas which may be followed as a flower arrangement.

Send Flowers to India and Worldwide this festive season. There could not be a better gifting option than this one.

Dhanteras, Dhantrayodashi or Dhanwantari Triodasi

Dhanteras is a festival which falls on the first day of the five day Diwali festival extravaganza. Other names of this occasion are Dhantrayodashi or Dhanvantari Triodasi. As per the Hindu calender, it is celebrated on the thirteenth day of Krishna Paksha in the month of Kartik. Dhanteras 2010 falls on 3 November (as per the more popular Gregorian calender).

Dhanteras day is considered especially fortuitous by the merchant, business class households. Preparations involve homes work premises being renovated and bedecked with decorations. From the Rangolis at the entrances to the vermilion and rice flour footprints throughout the house to the burning lamps, everything welcomes Goddess Lakshmi to shower her blessings on the residents.

This festival pays tribute to wealth and prosperity and thus is considered the right time for procuring new gold or silver articles or new utensils for own use and as Dhanteras gifts as well. Dhanteras is also a good time for gift shopping for the occasion of Diwali two days away.

Lakshmi Pujan is the main focus of the Dhanteras celebrations, it is organised right before sunset and clay diyas are lighted to drive away evil spirits. Devotional songs in reverence of Goddess Laxmi are sung, these are called Bhajans. Prasad or Naivedya of traditional sweets is offered to the Goddess. Cows are also worshipped on this day as they are the incarnation of Laxmi.

Karva Chauth 2010 - Karva Chauth Festival of India

The most important aspect of Karva Chauth day is that a dawn to dusk fast is undertaken by the North Indian ladies which ends with the appearance of the moon. The fast is unique perhaps because nowhere in the world does a wife go without food or water just to pray for the longevity and well-being of her husband.

Karva Chauth festival, the big fasting day has turned into a full-fledged event in todays day and time. The occasion is growing bigger with each passing day. The Halwais, the Mehendi and Churiwallis have traditionally been busy on this auspicious day. But joining the bandwagon in recent times are the beauty parlour owners, the event managers and the restaurant owners.

Cashing in on the popularity of 'eating out' most restaurants have special menus for this special day. No wonder almost every happening-eating joint around town is offering plenty of attractive options to choose from. Various clubs organize special events on this festive day with stalls, tambola and even dance competitions. With so much feasting and fun added to it, fasting had never been so good before.

Karva Chauth 2010 will be observed on 26th October, Tuesday.

Gift Ideas for Durga Puja, Navratri, Dussehra

Indians may give different names and may have different customs defining the 10 day festival in the month of October/November, Dussehra, Navratri or Durga Puja but the underlying spirit of celebrations remains the same. The citizens of this country do not believe in holding back, the festivities are full of life with many colours and sounds spread all over.

One of the major attractions of these celebrations is the ritual of exchanging gifts with loved ones, family, friends and acquaintances. It is a canvas in which everyone takes part with loads of energy and enthusiasm. This is the reason that the Navratri gifts or Durga Puja gifts have to be very special and have to represent the liveliness of these occasions. Some such gift ideas are listed here.

Sweets / Mithais for Durga Puja and Navratri

Durga Maa Idols and Puja Thalis / Accessories

Decoratives for Durga Puja and Navratri

Flowers as Durga Puja gifts

Paintings for Navratri, Durga Puja

Door Hangings / Bandhanwar and Wall Hangings

Chaniya Choli and Dandiya Sticks

Diyas / Lamps and Lanterns

Perfumes for Durga Puja celebrations

Jewelry as gifts on Navratri and Durga Puja

Send Flowers to India, USA, UK and Worldwide

Every season is the season of flowers. They are the most versatile of all gift ideas. Expressing so many emotions in a beautiful and candid way, these are a sure shot way of winning everyone's heart. Varied colours, pleasurable aromas, delicate appearances make them a favourite among all.

When deciding on the best choice of a gift for any occasion, it is considered thoughtful to add flowers as an add on to the gift idea. In fact, even if you are at a loss of what to gift on an occasion, send flowers and and see how your simple gift idea makes you popular with your loved ones.

With the fast changing lifestyles and increasing distances among loved ones, the gesture of gifting has gained importance. The availability of services which can deliver gifts at the recipients doorstep with a smile and the message accompanying the present has made it so easy to bridge the gaps of time and distance.

Send flowers to India, USA, UK and Worldwide with a trusted gifting service only. The experience of exchanging a gift of flowers should only add to the positive and happy memories that enrich our lives.

Karwa Chauth - The Fast for Long Life and Prosperity

The Indian cultural fabric is a rich one with people of various faiths and from different backgrounds mingling together as one. It is a societal canvass of many colours of lifestyles, languages, social practices, traditions, rituals and more. One of the most interesting chapters of this beautiful heritage is the festival of North and North western India called Karva Chauth.

Karwachauth is an occasion when married Hindu women pray to God for their husband's long life. Karva Chauth date falls about nine days before Diwali on the Kartik Ki Chouth - the fourth day of the waning moon or the dark fortnight, some time in October or November. Karva Chauth 2010 is on 25 October, Monday.

This occasion is considered more special for women who are observing their first Karva Chauth fast after marriage. A newly married woman is given utmost importance by relatives and immediate family members when she observes her first fast. She is showered with blessings for a blissful married life and loads of Karva Chauth gifts by her husband, mother-in-law and other relatives.

'Karwa Chauth' is a ritual of fasting observed by married Hindu women seeking the long life, well-being and prosperity of their husbands. Married women keep a strict fast and do not take even a drop of water. It is the most important and difficult fast observed by married Hindu women. It begins before sunrise and ends only after offering prayers and worshiping the moon at night. No food or water can be taken after sunrise. The fast is broken once the moon is sighted and rituals of the day have been performed. At night when the moon appears, women break their fast after offering water to the moon.

Honoring The Divine Goddess on Durga Puja and Navratri

Late september/early October each year is marked as the time for Durga Puja festivities. The dates of the festival are determined as per the Lunar calender. Durga Puja celebrates Goddess Durga as a form of Shakti. She is revered for her graciousness and her intolerance for any wrong and unfair deed. Durga is the Mother of the Universe and is a symbol of female dynamism. Durga, in Sanskrit means "She who is incomprehensible or difficult to reach." The manifestation of Goddess Durga is said to emerge from Her formless essence and the two are inseparable.

She is also called by many other names, such as Parvati, Ambika, and Kali. In the form of Parvati, she is known as the divine spouse of Lord Shiva and is the mother of Her two sons, Ganesha and Kartikeya, and daughter Jyoti. Destroyer of demons, she is worshiped during an annual festival called Durga puja, especially popular among Bengalis.

While earlier Durga was worshiped alone, now it is, more often than not, the goddess with her family. Durga is portrayed as the supreme head; and the presence of Ganesha, Kartikeya, Shiva etc marks a wholesome picture of divinity. In southern India, celebrations constitute a display of images of God and toys at home for nine days. However varied the nature of Durga Puja celebrations, what remains common is the reverence towards Maa durga.

Durga Puja festival has now taken a larger than life form, it is an extravaganza spread over the last five days of Navratri culminating in Dussehra. Age-old conch shells and drums have given way to loud film songs and expensive Durga Puja gifts are exchanged among loved ones. On the flip side, animal sacrifices, a must earlier, have been dispensed with at many places.

Send Flowers and Make Every Occasion Count

Whenever we want any celebration or remembrance to be etched in our memories forever we choose flowers as gifts. We can express any range of emotions by choosing just the right kind of flowers. From exotic to unique to elegant and common yet loved, the variety is endless.

Personal celebrations or public functions, grievance or happiness, kindness or love, everything can be said through them. One can send flowers for every form of expression. They leave a fragrance which lingers and stays with the recipient for a long time to come. There are some popular flower types but it is always better to read up or listen more to understand more about the other rare or exotic varieties and then decide on the ones to be gifted.

The advantage with flowers are many fold, one of which is that these can be clubbed with other gifts as chocolates, cakes, soft toys, collectibles, jewelry and many more. These are the most versatile of any gift idea. Flowers are a must have as Birthday gifts, Anniversary gifts, Wedding gifts, Congratulations gifts or Housewarming gifts etc.

Ganesha Chaturthi

Celebrate the birthday of Lord Ganesha, the god of wisdom and prosperity, on Sep 11, 2010.

Chaturthi or the birthday of Lord Ganesha is celebrated as per the cycle of the moon on August or September. The festivities last for 11 days following Ganesh Chaturthi and end on Anant Chaturdashi day.

This deeply loved elephant-headed God of Hindus is known by as many as 108 names. Some of these being Vignaharta, Vinayaka, Siddhivinayaka, Umaputra, Vigneshwara, Yashvasin, Vakratunda, Shweta, Nandana, Mangalamurti, Gaurisuta, Ganapati, Gajanana, Ekadanta, Akhuratha, Avighna, Buddhividhata etc. Lord Ganesha is popular for his ability to overcome obstacles and bring prosperity and fortune to those who love him. He is worshiped as the Lord of new beginnings and the guardian of entrances as well.

This festival is predominantly celebrated in Maharashtra, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The festivities begin with installation of Ganesha statues in homes and public diases. One should not look at the moon on this night. It is because of the belief that moon laughed at Lord Ganesha when he fell from his vehicle, the rat on which he was riding.

To invoke the holy presence of Ganesha into the statue, the ritual called as the Pranapratishhtha Puja is undertaken with recitation of mantras. Sweets, flowers, rice, coconut, jaggery and coins are then offered to Him and red chandan is applied on His forehead. On every day till Chaturdasi, prayers are held in homes and at public gatherings in the name of Lord Ganesha.

The statues are paraded through the streets with much fun filled joviality in the form of song and dance on Anant Chaturdashi. This journey ends with immersing the Lord into His resting place, a water body. This final act is to remind everyone that change is a universal truth and that in the end form dissolves and leads to a state of formlessness and only energy remains.

Id-Ul-Fitr

One of the most important occasions of the Islamic calendar is Eid-Ul-Fitr or Id-Ul-Fitr festival, commonly known as Eid. Eid denotes the end of 'Ramadan', the month of fasting and beginning of the new month of Shawwal.

Eid is an Arabic word which represents "festivity" and Fiṭr means "to purify". A fast is to be kept every day during the month of Ramadan. The fasting represents the fact that the spiritual being is superior to the physical. Eid date is decided by the appearance of the new moon. Prayers are offered in mosques and Idgahs and elaborate festivities are held.

On Id-Ul-Fitr, muslims wake up before sunrise and offer Salatul Fajr, an early morning namaz, clean one's teeth, take a shower, put on new clothes and apply perfume. A small breakfast is suggested on Eid day of sweet dish preferably the date fruit. Then a special Eid prayer, Salah, is to be attended in a congregation in open areas and mosques. After the prayer, everyone embraces the person sitting on either side of oneself while greeting them. Then everyone visits their near and dear ones with Eid gifts and prepared delicacies are distributed among friends and neighbours.

Common greetings on this day are ‘Īd mubārak ("Blessed Eid") or ‘Īd sa‘īd ("Happy Eid"). As per local languages and traditions there can be additional form of greetings as well. The festival of Eid is devoted to the omnipresent virtues of love, peace and brotherhood.

Rakhi Traditions and Rituals

Raksha Bandhan has been celebrated in the same way and through similar traditions for a long time. Only the means have evolved with changing lifestyles and have made Rakhi celebrations more elaborate and lively.

On Rakhi day, sisters prepare the puja thali with diya, roli, chawal, rakhi thread and sweets. The rituals begin with a bath and early morning prayer, sisters tie Rakhi on the wrist of their brothers amid chanting of mantras, put roli and rice on his forehead and pray for his well-being. She bestows him with gifts and blessings.

In return, the brother acknowledges his sister's love with a promise to stand by his sister through all times, good and bad and pledges to take care of her. He then gives her a return gift. Rakhi gifts symbolize the acceptance of her love, is a reminder of their togetherness and his pledge.

The increasing distances have made people value family time and thus Rakhi day has become a time for family reunions. The joyous meeting, the rare family get-together, that erstwhile feeling of brotherhood and sisterhood also calls for a memorable celebration. Those near and dear ones who are not able to meet each other, send e-rakhis, rakhi cards and/or send rakhi online and through mails on Raksha Bandhan.

Onam Festival of Kerala – An Introduction

Onam is the biggest and the most important festival of the state of Kerala. Since, this occasion represents the rich culture of the state, it was made the National Festival of Kerala in the year 1961.

The festival of Onam is celebrated in the beginning of the month of Chingam, the first month of Malayalam Calendar (Kollavarsham). This corresponds with the month of August-September according to the Gregorian Calendar. It is a harvest festival and according to a popular legend, the festival is celebrated to welcome King Mahabali, whose spirit is said to visit Kerala at the time of Onam.

The Onam carnival lasts for four to ten days. First day Atham and tenth day Thiruonam are the most important of all. Grand feasts, folk songs, elegant onam dances, energetic onam games, elephants, snake boat race and Onam gifts, all are a part of the dynamic festival called Onam.

Government of India has taken due notice of this vibrant and colourful festival. It promotes Onam internationally in a big way and celebrates 'Tourist Week' for Kerala during Onam celebrations. Thousands of domestic and foreign tourists visit Kerala to be a part of Onam.

Raksha Bandhan Festival in India

Rakhi is undoubtedly one of the most popular cultural festivals in India. It is an occasion that speaks of the undying love between a brother and a sister. Raksha Bandhan is a promise to protect and cherish forever the sacred bond that symbolises this relationship.

This is one of those rare ancient cultural occasions that does not limit the rituals to a brother and a sister. You need not be a related by blood or family to tie a Rakhi and do pooja on Rakshabandhan. Owing to the regional influence of the local legends and their relevance in different parts of the country, the celebrations of Rakhi in India vary throughout India.

This festival is primarily known as being associated with the north and north western part of the country. But, it can be safely said that with changing times and the world having become a smaller place, this occasion has gained popularity in many parts of this country and even so the world.

10 Ideas on Anniversary Gifting

Anniversaries are a time of reminiscing and of joyous celebrations. There is also a lot of planning and preparation involved any anniversary party or get-together. Whether it is only family or a couple of close friends or maybe a huge group of merry makers, a common presence are anniversary gifts.

Every year or at every other celebration one meets the same people and thus thinking of a different gift idea every time is not really an easy task. The decision though rests with the giver, one can stay with the conventional gifts or go with unusual ones wherein the confidence in the anniversary present is the key point to your gift being a success. A mix of the regular and novel gift ideas are listed here:

Cakes with Flowers
Decorative Items
Anniversary Hampers
Flower Vases
Paintings
Feng Shui Gifts
Personalised Photo Gifts
Chocolates and Soft Toys
Photo Frames
Jewelry with or w/o Jewelry Boxes

Express Your Love on Parents Day

It is the little things that matter more in life. So is true when it comes to our relationship with the people that make it worth living. Parents are those special beings that we come to know in the very beginning of ours. They introduce us to this world and guide us towards the identity of individuals we soon become.

Our parents would never forget the important days when we were growing up, the milestones in our journey which they made us capable enough to reach. Parents Day is the time for us to acknowledge and pay tributes to whatever they have done for us selflessly. This is one little gesture that accomplishes so much in making a big statement.

One need not do anything big, a small thoughtful act goes a long way when it comes to those we love. Handmade cards, baking a cake or making a meal, making a scrapbook or a collage, sending them on an amazing trip to someplace nice, Parents Day gifts of love, a Parents Day celebration for them and those they love. These are just some of the many ideas that are sure to touch our parent's hearts.

Friendship Day Celebrations

In any culture, friends and friendship is considered one of the most admirable of all relationships. It is one of the few of all human bonds which encompasses so many values and yet seems so simple. It is said that human emotions do not change with changing physical boundaries and geographical and cultural differences, this holds true even in the case of friendship.

Friendship Day means time spent with friends, it means making friends feel special and cherished. Though a universal celebration, this occasion has a different meaning for everyone and is thus celebrated by every individual in their own way. Most among us choose to celebrate the entire day in the company of their friends. There are others who mark Friendship Day by being a part of or organising Friendship Day parties for their friends.

Friendship Day celebrations are particularly marked in educational institutions and work places. Distances appear meaningless in this atmosphere and people wish their friends through calls, SMSes, cards and Friendships Day gifts. In recent times, the concept of celebrating Friendship Week is also fast catching up mostly so with the younger generation.

Birthday Gifts for a Young Lady

A birthday is for pampering and for reveling in memories that will last a lifetime. Here are two such birthday gift ideas that are sure to make it a day to remember for that young lady in your life.

Perfumes and Cosmetics
Dressing up and looking beautiful is part of any girl in her growing up teen years. The best way of making a birthday memorable for her is by giving her birthday gifts (sending birthday gifts) that make her feel good about herself. The choice of beauty products depends on her personality , body type and her skin tone.

One should keep these factors in mind before going in for any related beauty product as a birthday present for a young lady. The brand of the gift is important too especially in the case of cosmetics. The reason for the same is two-fold, the recipient may be brand conscious or sensitive to some kinds of products.

Trendy Jewelry with Jewelry Box
When going in for jewelry gift shopping, the basic criteria is the age and the style of the recipient. How does she carry herself, what are her interests and hobbies? If you can answer these questions with clarity then the choice of jewelry becomes easier for a giver. Pendants, bracelets, anklets and earrings are perfect as birthday gift ideas for a girl who is growing up and also has a childlike innocence towards life. A gift of ornaments though is incomplete without an intricately crafted jewelry box to carry it.

An Unconventional and A Popular Birthday Gift Idea for a Teenager

Birthday celebrations make us think in two different planes at the same time and we end up having to decide between an unconventional gift or a conventional gift idea (that seems like a safe gift option). Here are two such birthday gift ideas for the young adults or teenagers.

Unconventional Birthday Gift Idea - Music or a Musical Instrument
Music is something which has a universal appeal. Everyone, irrespective of age, class, gender, status and cultural background loves listening to music. Then there are those among us who love learning newer aspects of music or are more inclined towards creativity. A gift that is sure to be popular among teenagers is a gift of music. It may be their favourite music compiled for them to listen to and enjoy or a music player or a musical instrument as a learning cum hobby idea.

Popular Birthday Gifts - Box of Candies and Chocolates
The love affair between a youngster and chocolates or candies is well known. Birthday gifts of chocolates and sweets are conventional and contemporary at the same time. The presentation of the gift is the key factor which will differentiate a simple and regular present from a thoughtfully done and beautifully assembled gift of sweets. This gift can even be teamed up with other things as flowers, photo gifts and souvenirs and made into a birthday gift basket.

Personalised Father's Day Gift Ideas

Father's Day 2010 is on 20th June, Third Sunday of June.

All of us have an individual approach to making this day special and memorable for our fathers. This personal factor in any Fathers Day celebration is best represented through Personalised Photo Gifts. Here are some really amazing ideas on Father's Day gifts for your dearest dad.

Candles
Canvas
Cushion/Pillow
Certificate
Greeting Cards
Photo Keepsake Boxes
Mugs
Posters
T-Shirts

The ideas outlined above cover the popular as well as the unconventional among all of personalised Fathers Day gifts.

Two Special Birthday Gifts for Her

Dressing up and looking beautiful is an important part of any girls' lifestyle. The best way of making a birthday memorable for her is by giving her birthday presents that make her feel good about herself.

Cosmetics as Birthday Gift Ideas for Her
The choice of beauty products depends on her personality, body type and her skin tone. One should keep these factors in mind before going in for beauty products as a birthday gifts for a young lady. The brand of the gift is important too especially in the case of cosmetics. The reason for the same is two-fold, the recipient may be brand conscious or sensitive to some kinds of products.

Trendy Jewelry with Jewelry Box as Birthday Gifts
When going in for jewelry gift shopping, the basic criteria is the age and the style of the recipient. How does she carry herself, what are her interests and hobbies? If you can answer these questions with clarity then the choice of jewelry becomes easier for a giver. Pendants, bracelets, anklets and earrings are perfect as birthday gifts for her. A gift of ornaments though is incomplete without an intricately crafted jewelry box to store it.

Father's Day 2010 Celebrations

All of us have someone or the other whom we consider our guide and mentor. It may be our father or someone we respect and love as we would our father. On Father's Day, everybody takes the opportunity to tell his/her father how much he is loved and appreciated.

Father's Day is a personal celebration and thus the nature and style of celebrations differ from person to person and culture to culture. Some of us make hand made cards with heart touching messages or quotations for their father. Then there are those who try to bridge all differences, physical or emotional, on this day by spending some time with their dad on Fathers Day.

Also, some children present many Father's Day gifts to their dearest dad on this day. From fresh Father's Day flowers to Father's Day cards, gift basket or personalised gifts, accessories etc. to their father. One can add to this with gifts of experience like making his favourite meal, planning a day out and so on. Some people also like to throw a Father's Day party and invite people close to him, his friends, acquaintances and relatives.

To many children, this is the most special way of expressing affection for their dad on Father's Day. And, to let him know that everything he does for the family is appreciated from the bottom of their heart.

Cool Birthday Gift Ideas For Little Boys

A birthday is an occasion that all of us wait for the entire year. Kids are especially enthusiastic about their birthday celebrations and excited about the gifts they receive on their birthday. Here are some ideas on birthday gifts for kids, young boys.

Funky or Playful Watches
Cool and trendy watches are a good birthday present for a small boy. Research a little for the perfect choice of this accessory for him and make sure that he falls in love with the special present. This gift is sure to add to his personality and give him the much needed confidence over other kids his age.

Video Games, Play station
In spite of being a popular choice among gifts on every occasion for young or teenage boys, this is one among all birthday gift ideas that would still be loved no end by a little boy. A game such as this also means a lot of quality time spent as a family (with your kids).

Cars and Trucks
Most young boys love toys that involve speed and excitement and which brings out the competitive spirit in him. Send birthday gifts of toy cars and trucks for him. Of the variety of such gift ideas out there, choose one that ends up as the perfect plaything for him.

Akshaya Tritiya 2010

Akshaya Tritiya 2010 is on May 16. Akshaya Tritiya, which is also known as Akha Teej is an important landmark in a Hindu year. This is one of the 4 most propitious days of the Hindu calender. According to the Hindu lunar calender, Akha Teej is on the third day of Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) in Vaishakh Month. Astrologically every moment of this day is very lucky. The meaning of Akshaya is 'one which never diminishes’.

Sun and Moon are very luminous and in the most opportune phase on this day. So, personal as well as professional beginnings and ventures are carried out on Akshaya Tritiya. Any new endeavour or investment done on Akha Teej is bound to bring fruitful results. Even when it comes to marriages and purchasing valuables like gold and diamond, this is just the perfect time in an year. When the occasion is of Akshaya Tritiya, people worship Lord Vishnu and his incarnations and also Laxmi puja is performed.

As per Hindu mythology, there are various legends associated with this day. Sudama or Kuchela visiting Lord Krishna in Dwarka with a handful of rice in the form of poha or aval. Pandavas received the Akshaya Patram, a bowl, from Lord Krishna (Mahabharata) on Akshaya Tritiya. Another legend says that Sage Vyasa began the composition of Mahabharata on the day.

5 Pointers for Selecting Gifts On a Birthday

The ritual of gifting is an indispensable part of the celebrations on a birthday. Thus, selecting gifts for someone you know and love becomes an incredibly important task. Here are some pointers to be kept in mind while choosing birthday gifts.

Consider well the style and preferences of the recipient. This will ensure that one does not go wrong in the choice of gift.

Ask yourself, is there something which your love done has been planning to buy for a long time? If there is then this birthday gift idea should be the priority in your gift shopping list.

Birthday gifts are a reflection of ones feelings for their loved ones. So, make sure that the present has this quality of expression.

Gifts that are thoughtfully done or bought are priceless. This factor is more important than the price tag of your gift.

Before arranging for the gift (send birthday gifts), try to think from the recipients end. What will he/she love and also what value does your present hold for them?

Birthday Gift of Fresh Flowers and Fruits Basket

A combination of flowers and fruits as a gift may seem very conventional and common of all birthday gift ideas. But, the truth is something else altogether. Most of the times, we do not go for such birthday gifts because of the fear of it not being a good enough choice for a gift.

The difference lies in the presentation of this gift idea. A well decorated and beautifully assembled gift basket of fresh fruits and flowers makes for a classically beautiful birthday gift.

On personal occasions such as a birthday or anniversary or wedding or maybe Mother's Day, Father's Day, it is essential that the gift is according to the choice and nature of the recipient.

Thus, while gifting (when you wish to send birthday gifts) someone fresh blossoms and fruits, the type of fruits, whether seasonal or exotic, the flowers and even so the presentation of the gift basket depends on this very factor.

7 Special Gift Ideas for Mother's Day

One relationship which is always with us is the one we share with our mothers. They are our guiding force and are responsible for making us who we are. Mothers also shape our lives and our personalities and crediting them for the same is something one should do at every opportunity.

We might have our own individualistic approach in paying tribute to these amazing people in our lives. Some such ideas on Mother's Day gifts are discussed here.

Outdoor Umbrellas and/or Backyard or Garden Seating

Cookbook and Dinner Table Gift Set

Her Favourite DVD/Music Collection

Home Gardens for Her on Mother's Day

Kitchen and Bedroom Decor for Mother

Coffee and Tea Gift Baskets

Designer Hand Bags for Mother

Mother's Day 2010 is the perfect occasion to celebrate our mothers love. These gifts are just the right accompaniment when expressing our best wishes for our mom.

Ideas on Mother's Day Gifts

Mothers Day is an occasion that anyone and everyone can relate to. People across regions, religions, castes, cultures, genders and financial status understand the meaning and relevance of motherhood. Thus, there could not be a more universal celebration than this one.

Any and every Mother's Day party or Mother's Day get-to-gether is incomplete without the ritual of giving gifts. Thus, Mother's Day gift ideas include from the more generic present of Mother's Day Flowers, Chocolates for Mother and Mother's Day Cakes to the customizable Gift Baskets/Hampers.

When it comes to making your mother look beautiful and appreciated, the Mother's Day gifts of apparels and accessories works best. So, Saree's and Suits for Mother, Kurtis/Kurtas, Handbags and Watches for Mother are all great presents for Mother's Day.

Adorable Gifts for a First Mother on Mother's Day

Welcoming motherhood is one of the most beautiful new beginnings for any woman. It is one of the most memorable periods in not only a mother but in the family's life as well. There are many ways of adding to the happiness and love of a new mother. Some such adorable Mother's Day ideas are,

Pamper Her on This Day – Arrange for her to visit a parlour coupled with a morning at the spa would be a treat that she would always remember you for.

Her Favourite Music and Movies – Gift her something she can treasure for a long time to come and reminisce with pleasure, a collection of movies and music she loves.

Clothes for Her and the Baby – These conventional gifts are sure to please this new mother for she would love the thoughtfulness behind this gesture of matching or complementary clothes.

Pendants and Bracelets for Her and the Baby – One very sweet and adorable of all Mother's Day gifts is delicate yet artistically designed Pendants and Bracelets both for the mum and her baby.

Paintings as a Mother's Day Gift Idea

Now, 'painting' is a very wide term used for many kinds of art forms which might make the choice of your art form seem difficult at first. Even so, the basic concept behind a painting never changes, that is of colour and application of feelings through colour, so choose well and please your special someone, your mother with this gift on Mother's Day.

If you are feeling creative lately, you can pour out your emotions in the form of art work of paintings. And, even if you are not feeling extra creative or anything, remember it is always the thought behind a gift that defines its beauty.

When going gift shopping for your mom, be very thoughtful of her tastes and style in decoratives. Does she appreciate art and if so then what is her favourite style in paintings? It takes a very keen and artistic eye to choose art. You can even consider some one's opinion when it comes to Mother's Day gifts of which you have little or no knowledge.

There are many forms of paintings available as a gift option. Palm Leaf, Wooden Framed, Mughal Paintings, Silk, Marble and Madhubani Paintings are just a few among the many painting styles available for you to choose from for any and every occasion.

Organising A Mother's Day Party

Mother's Day is just round the corner. And, you have started planning for that ideal celebration already. Other than the basic parameters, namely your and your mothers' style and preferences, the next relevant deciding factor in your choice of celebration is the number and the nature of invitees.

An organised celebration is always a good idea if your invitees are many in number. Once you start writing down the list of people coming to Mother's Day party and somewhere you realise that the occasion can turn into a huge gathering of people. Then, a better idea is to turn your Mother's Day celebration into a themed party.

The theme can be anything till the time it is something which can be implemented without a lot of complications. The end result should be as per your visualisation of the theme. The party can be based on the basis of a place like a beach party, poolside party, riverside, desert themed party or it can be based on one or many colour combinations or maybe some period in history or future. You can even base your Mother's Day festivities around an event or on famous personalities.

Gift Your Mom Diamonds This Mothers Day

When it comes to jewelry as a gift idea, diamonds win hands down in terms of popularity among other gems. These are, by far, the most coveted and loved of all jewels. A woman wearing one or more diamonds is prouder about the fact that she is wearing a stone more precious than any other.

Be it bracelets, personalised birthstone jewelry, watches, pendants, rings, necklaces or earrings, the presence of a diamond adds life and elegance to Mother's Day gifts. Then, even the size and number does not matter as much. Even a smaller diamond present on the gift (gift for mother, gift for her, mother's day jewelry) is a good enough expression of your love for this special lady in your life..

One of the basic aspects about diamonds is that even though these come in a wide variety but can be easily differentiated on the basis of four main characteristics.

Clarity represents the purity of a diamond.

Colour describes the amount of colour the diamond contains. The more commonly bought diamonds are colourless to yellow with slight tints of yellow, gray or brown

Cut refers to the proportions, finish, symmetry, and polish of the diamond. Artistically cut diamonds are more expensive than roughly cut diamonds.

Carat is the unit of weight of a diamond. So, 2 half-carat diamonds taken together will not cost as much as 1 one-carat diamond, as the one-carat stone is rarer.

These should be kept in mind before buying diamond jewelry for her (jewelry for mother) on Mother's Day.

Mother's Day Celebrations in India

Even though giving respect and acknowledging mothers and motherhood is not new to the Indian ideology. But, the concept of Mother's Day or a day dedicated to mothers is something which is very new in India. Most countries including US, Australia, Canada and India celebrate Mothers Day on the second Sunday of May.

Globalisation, has given the recognition to this festival in India. Introduced as a card and gift giving day (for mothers) in the metropolitan cities, Mother's Day is now fast spreading its wings to a wider audience as well. Indians have dedicated this one day in the calender to all mothers and to the selfless spirit that is omnipresent in every mother-child bond.

Everyone tries, in their own special and individual way to make this day special for their mothers. There are various community level programs held in India, with respect to this day. Mother's Day flowers and cards are the favourite among all tokens of love for mothers. It is a day to pamper and make mothers feel special with Mother's Day gifts. Like people across the world, Indians too reflect upon and express gratitude for the immense love and support of their mothers in giving them an identity of their own.

A Gift of Love, Mother's Day Gift Baskets

Mother's Day should be the day for showering our mothers with all the love and affection. It is the time when we wish to pamper her with loads of gifts. This is easily done with so many gift shopping options available in the market these days.

In fact, once you have decided to give Mother's Day gifts which are more than one in number, you do not need go shopping for all the presents one by one as there are several attractive Gift Baskets for mothers available in any gift store around you. Most of these Mothers Day Gift Hampers and Mothers Day Gift Baskets are designed and assembled to suit the occasion and recipient.

The gift baskets can even be customised as per your needs and preferences. At our end, it is important to keep in mind your mothers choice in Mother's Day gifts. Think on what kind of gift hamper your mother is going to appreciate more. It would not be a nice idea to gift her a chocolate Mother's Day Gift Hamper when she is not very much fond of chocolates.

A Memorable Mother's Day Celebration

Mothers Day provides us all with an opportunity to make our mothers feel special and loved. In fact one need not go far when it comes to celebrating this day for mothers. Mother's Day celebrations can be made memorable with just a little effort.

Organising Mother's Day festivities need not be extensive and detailed. Simple, fun activities can add a lot of value to your celebrations. Mother's Day games are a very good idea for a joyful Mothers Day. Outdoor sports, board games, bowling, family video games and jigsaw puzzles, the choice depends on the participants interest and involvement.

Mothers Day can also be made special with a visit or small day trip to a beautiful garden, botanical or wildlife park or a riverside excursion. Another really exciting idea for family time on Mother's Day is a holding a small brunch or an evening tea party for your mother and people close to her.

Taking her to a Theater, Concert, Performance or going sightseeing, shopping with her are also interesting ways to bond with your mother. These small excursions will ensure ample time spent on Mother's Day celebrations at home coupled with an outing of a couple of hours, leading to a wholesome experience for your mom on this day.

Some Inexpensive Homemade Mother's Day Gifts

Crafts may either be presented as Mother's Day gifts or utilised as a decorative for a Mother's Day celebration. If you are looking forward to making some interesting crafts for your mother, you can find some ideas here.

Mother's Day Scrapbook – These are the perfect solution for a thoughtful Mother's Day gift idea. One can use pictures, thoughts in the form of words, poems, letters, messages and also present the scrapbook with as much ornamentation as possible.

Mothers Day Collage – A collage is a photo story book. The size and scale of the collage though depends on your resources and the extent of effort you are willing to put in such Mother's Day gifts.

Picture Frames for Mom – One can construct a Mother's Day picture frame using many materials wooden twigs, foam, plastic.

Diary for Mother – Anything and everything you have wanted to say over the years should be presented in the form of a diary to your mum. You can even gift her a self decorated diary which she can fill with her thoughts and ideas.

Necklaces/Bracelets/Pendants/Key chain – Beads, glass, white metal, plastic, thread, there are many items that can go in making a handmade, inexpensive yet priceless jewelry on Mother's Day.

Flower Wreath/Flowers in a flower Basket – There could not be a simpler gift than these Mother's Day crafts for your mom. All you need is handpicked flowers and some imagination in terms of presentation of colours and variety of these fragrant gifts (Mother's Day flowers).

Writing a Card for Your Mother on Mother's Day

Mother's Day is coming and you have started preparing for it already. After all we all want it to be an extra special occasion for our mothers.

Every other preparation is going on as planned, but writing a Mother's Day card is troubling you. How to express everything you are feeling in just a few lines or words? To begin with, one has to remember when writing any kind of message is that it should come straight from your heart. Then, whether you are writing a message, a note, poem or even a song or story, it does not matter. What matters is the honesty of your feelings. If it is a heartfelt message then the end result of your effort has to be beautiful, there is no two ways about it. The language, the presentation can do with some work after you are done with the write-up. The corrections though, should not change the overall meaning of your message.

If you are making a traditional homemade card and are willing to put in that extra bit of creative effort, there are many ways this can be done. A card can be decorated and made more presentable with just a little creativity. Glitter, colour pencils, water and oil colours, highlights can be used to add colour and shine to your card. Also, paper, cloth, card stock, buttons, threads and other add ons can be used to make your card look prettier.

A scrapbook, a diary or a collage are all forms of cards, if we look at a card in terms of Mother's Day gifts or Mother's Day presents or as a means of expressing ourselves. Either ways, cards can be as elaborately done or as simple as a single message on a card procured when doing gift shopping.