Vastu shanti return gifts for guests: what to hand out after the puja in your new home, priced per family

The return gift after a vastu shanti

A vastu shanti is the puja for the house itself, done before or when a family moves into a new home, and sometimes after a major renovation. The priest performs the puja and havan, relatives and neighbours come for darshan and a meal, and at the end each family leaves with prasad. Many hosts also give a small return gift, and in Maharashtrian homes the ladies are often given haldi kunku with a little gift as well.

If you are a guest wondering what to carry to the puja, that is a different question, and we answer it in what to gift at a griha pravesh puja. This page is for the host.

A light is a natural return gift for this day. The new house is lit for the first time, and each guest takes a little of that light home for their own mandir. Raajkosh makes hand-poured soy wax candles in Jalandhar, and three of ours suit a vastu shanti:

• Lotus Candle, Rs 349 each: a layered lotus, green leaves with a red bloom or all coral pink. The lotus is the flower of Lakshmi, which is why it sits well with a house puja.
• Diya Candles, Rs 449 for a pack of 6: terracotta-red diyas with a lattice rim, for the guest's next festival.
• Matki Candles, Rs 599 for a pack of 4: red matki pots with a hand-painted vine border, for close family.

What it costs for your guest list

Count one gift per family. A puja with 60 people is often 15 to 20 households.

All of these orders cross Rs 999, so shipping is free. A common pattern is the lotus for most families and the matki set for the five or six closest relatives.

Choosing for the people who came

Neighbours and the new society. You are meeting them for the first time. The Lotus Candle is small, pretty and not too personal.

Relatives and elders. They will use diyas. The Diya Candles pack is the most practical of the three.

Ladies receiving haldi kunku. Add the lotus or a pair of tealights to the haldi kunku packet. We have a separate guide for haldi kumkum return gifts if you are planning that part too.

The priest. The pandit receives dakshina, and often clothes or a dhoti and grain. A candle is not a replacement for that; keep it to the customary offering.

Making the packet look complete

• Put the prasad (a laddoo or a small box of sweets) in its own bag, and the candle in a small box or pouch.
• A tag with the family name and the new address is a nice touch: "Thank you for blessing our new home".
• Keep the packets in a cool room until guests leave. Soy wax softens in direct sun, and the puja room gets warm with the havan.
• You can add gift packaging and a gift note on our product pages.

What other hosts give at a vastu shanti

• Steel items: bowls, glasses or a small plate. Traditional, useful and very common.
• Coconut and a blouse piece for married women, in many Maharashtrian and Karnataka homes.
• Dry fruit boxes or a sweet box from a good mithai shop.
• Plants: a small tulsi or money plant, if guests have space.
• A silver coin for very close family, if the budget allows.
• Small brass or clay diyas, if you want a lamp that burns ghee or oil.

Ordering before the muhurat

• Order as soon as the puja date is fixed. We dispatch in 24 to 48 hours, then delivery takes 2 to 7 days anywhere in India. Check the estimate for your pincode on the product page.
• For a large number, write to us first on WhatsApp (+91 85958 24586) or at maharani@raajkosh.com with the count and the date.
• Prepaid only, by UPI, card, net banking or wallet through Razorpay. No cash on delivery.
• Damage reported within 24 hours of delivery is replaced or refunded.

A line to print on the tag: Vastu shanti return gifts for guests

Light it on a heat-proof plate, never leave it burning unattended, trim the wick to about 5 mm and keep each burn to 3 to 4 hours.