Good luck gift before a new job, a big exam or a new shop: shubh symbols in wax, from Rs 349Good luck gift before a new job, a big exam or a new shop: shubh symbols in wax, from Rs 349

A good luck gift comes before the big day

A good luck gift is given before something starts: the board exams, the first day at a new job, the move abroad, the opening of a shop, a match, an interview, a court date. In Indian homes it usually carries a shubh symbol, something from the mandir that says "may it go well" without a speech. We will not tell you a candle brings luck. We will tell you which traditional shapes people give, and which of ours fit.

Raajkosh hand-pours soy wax candles in Jalandhar. Three of our pieces carry the classic shubh shapes:

• Lotus Candle, Rs 349. The lotus is the seat of Lakshmi and Saraswati. Green and red, or coral pink.
• Shankh Candle, Rs 799. The conch blown at the start of a puja, here in cream and caramel with pink wax lotuses.
• Diya Candles, Rs 449. Six terracotta-red wax diyas: the first lamp lit at any new beginning.

Which good luck gift for which beginning

The Shankh Candle with the Diya Candles is Rs 1,248 and ships free (free shipping starts at Rs 999). The Lotus Candle with the Sunflower Tealights is Rs 798, plus Rs 79 shipping.

For a student before exams

The most common good luck gift in India goes to a student in February and March. A Lotus Candle beside their books says "Saraswati is with you" in the language most families already speak. Two practical points: a stressed student studying late at night should not fall asleep with a candle burning, so tell them to put it out before bed, or keep it unlit as decor on the desk. And a note from grandparents means more at this age than anything you buy.

For the opening of a shop or office

An opening puja (a muhurat) needs diyas, and the Diya Candles remove the pouring of oil on a new floor. The Shankh Candle sits on the counter afterwards as decor. If you are a company sending good luck gifts to ten or more clients or dealers for an opening, our corporate gifting page gives a quote, with your logo on the tag.

The note: wish them well, plainly

• "All the best for the boards. Light this before you start and after you finish."
• "Shubh aarambh. May the counter never be empty."
• "For your first desk in the new office."

To put their name on the tag, use a custom enquiry on our custom orders page. We reply with what is possible, a timeline and a price.

Timing a gift that must arrive before the day

This is the part to plan. We dispatch in 24 to 48 hours and deliver 2 to 7 days after dispatch, and we never promise a date. For an exam or a joining date, order early and check the delivery estimate for the pincode on the product page. If the day is tomorrow, a local mandir shop or sweet shop will serve you better. Once they have succeeded, our page on congratulations gifts covers the second gift.

Paying for a good luck gift, and returning one

Prepaid only (UPI, card, net banking or wallet); there is no cash on delivery. Shop orders can be returned on a request within 24 hours of delivery, and damage reported within 24 hours is replaced or refunded.

When lit: a stable, heat-proof surface, away from books and papers, never unattended, and keep each burn to 3 to 4 hours.