Haldi kumkum gifts for ladies (pasupu kumkuma return gifts): small diya and candle gifts, priced per guest

A small light to send each lady home with

At a haldi kumkum (haldi kunku in Marathi homes, arishina kumkuma in Kannada, pasupu kumkuma in Telugu), the hostess applies haldi and kumkum to each married woman who visits and gives her a small gift to take home. The gift, often called vaan or tambulam, is usually something auspicious and useful: bangles, a blouse piece, a steel or brass item, a small pooja object.

A wax diya fits that list naturally. It is a pooja object, it is used, not stored, and it is something women appreciate getting from another woman's home. These are the candles in our range that suit it:

• Diya Candles, Rs 449 for a pack of 6: six soy wax candles in terracotta-red diyas with a carved lattice rim. Give one diya per lady and one pack covers six guests, so the cost is under Rs 100 a lady.
• Matki Candles, Rs 599 for a pack of 4: four candles in little red matki pots with a green and yellow vine border. One matki per lady, under Rs 150 each, and it looks more special.
• Lotus Candle, Rs 349 each: a layered lotus flower in coral pink, or green leaves with a red bloom. For close family or the elder ladies you want to honour.

All are hand-poured in pure soy wax in Jalandhar. The red of the diyas and matkis sits well beside the haldi and kumkum on the plate.

Working out the quantity for your guest list

Count the ladies first, then the packs:

Keep two or three spare. There is always one more aunty than you planned for.

A mixed plan works well for a bigger gathering: Diya Candles for everyone, and a Lotus Candle each for the three or four senior ladies.

Making each gift look finished

The packs arrive as packs, so you will be dividing them yourself. Simple ways to do it:

• Put one diya in a small cloth or potli bag with a few grains of rice or a betel leaf, the way many families pack vaan.
• Place it on a small steel plate or a paper plate lined with a leaf, next to the bangles or haldi kumkum packet.
• Tie a tag with a line such as "With love, from the Kulkarni family".

If you would rather not handle the packing, choose gift packaging on the product page and give each pack as a whole to a smaller group of close relatives.

Gifts other hostesses give

Candles are one choice among many, and many hostesses mix them with what is traditional in their family:

• Bangles and a blouse piece, very common in Maharashtra.
• Small steel or brass items: kumkum boxes, small bowls, a lamp, a spoon set. A local steel shop or bazaar will have the widest range at bulk prices.
• Kumkum and haldi boxes in fancy cases, sold by many return-gift sellers online.
• Plants, cloth bags or tiffin boxes, for something practical.

If you need gifts for more than a few dozen ladies and your budget is very tight, a bulk return-gift seller or a local market will be cheaper per piece than handmade candles. Where our diyas earn their price is a smaller, closer gathering where you want the gift to look chosen. For other functions, see our guide to candles for return gifts.

Ordering for the function

• Dispatch in 24 to 48 hours; delivery 2 to 7 days after dispatch, anywhere in India. Order well before your date and check the delivery estimate for your pincode on the product page.
• Free shipping on orders of Rs 999 or more; Rs 79 below. Most guest lists cross Rs 999 quickly.
• Prepaid only: UPI, card, net banking or wallet through Razorpay. No cash on delivery.
• Count your packs the day they arrive. Any damage reported within 24 hours of delivery is replaced or refunded.
• For a large or unusual quantity, WhatsApp us first on +91 85958 24586.

A line for the tag, if you like: light it on a stable, heat-proof surface, never leave it burning alone, trim the wick to about 5 mm, and keep each burn to 3 to 4 hours at most.