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Diwali gifting

10 Diwali Gift Ideas for Family ...

Diwali is here, and so is the much-anticipated gifting season!  Well, as we are rushing to complete the Diwali shopping, you may have less time to pick the right gift that satisfies all your family members and friends–ranging from Gen Z obsessed with sustainability, tech-savvy cousins, grandmothers who still love to eat sweets, and a health nut who vowed not to touch sugar again, the list goes on… Choosing a thoughtful gift that makes all of them go ‘wow’ can be tricky with less time left, but it's these precious moments of giving that make Diwali one of the most awaited and memorable festivals.  So, to save you from fretting over thoughtful Diwali gift ideas, we've got you covered.  Here is a list of thoughtful Diwali gift ideas for friends and family beyond the traditional options like dry fruits and homemade sweets. Diwali Gifting Ideas for Family and Friends  1. Metallic Reusable Diyas / Tealight Lamp For the festival of lights, how can we miss diyas to brighten up the mood?  Go for a metallic reusable tea light lamp which not only comes in exquisite looks but can also be reused. Plus they emit less emissions compared to oil burnt ones. Top it off with our Laddubars minis for a flavourful spin. 2. Succulent Plants Even the couch potatoes will appreciate Succulent plants since they require minimum maintenance.  These plants, available in many forms, from tiny potted ones ideal for work desks to a whole set for a mini indoor garden, are eco-friendly gifts that add a greenish touch to indoors. It's a thoughtful gift for busy bees to slow-living minimalists. 3. Laddubars Diwali Gift Box Sweets are a must-have for Diwali–but did you know that most of the ultra-processed sweets like chocolates are not good for the planet? Their cold storage requirements and not-so-environmentally friendly production process lead to a higher carbon footprint—that's the amount of carbon emissions a particular product can cause.  On the other hand, Laddubars have a lower carbon footprint compared to similar bars in the market. So, why not embrace sustainable gifting during this Diwali? That, too, comes with an exquisite pearl tea lamp and greeting card. It's a healthy combo of 10 dry fruit Laddubar mini and 2 millet and 2 dry fruit Laddubars made from authentic recipes from grandmothers. A nourishing gift with no refined sugar and only healthy ingredients —that's guaranteed to make even your friends obsessed with doomsday predictions due to climate change to grumpy uncles and aunties happy! Let their eyes pop out at your thoughtfulness about their health and concern for the planet.  4. Crochet Clothing and Toys ( for that friend who refuses to grow up) As the world is shifting towards eco-conscious fashion—you can surprise your friends with a knitted shawl or stylish tops. As the winter season is about to begin, a cosy knitted shawl will come in handy. If you want to give a cute soft toy, try crocheted ones; they are adorable and come in a lot of forms. If It's for kids, avoid the ones with plastic eyes or buttons. Pack it along with a dry fruit Laddubar for a thoughtful combo. 5. Hand-made Bags/ Reusable Bags Bags are classy–from durable, chic sling bags to reusable totes, they are appreciated by women of all ages. Show your thoughtfulness by picking ethically sourced artisanal bags.  Whether it's for travel buddies or aunties on shopping sprees–A reusable bag is a must-have. You can add our specifically curated energy bars for travel and adventures for those travelbound friends and cousins for brownie points. 6. Air Purifier Plants  Do you know that there are NASA-recommended air purifier plants?  Well, NASA's Clean Air Study identified a bunch of indoor plants– they remove common toxins from the air and hence act as natural air purifiers! The list includes Snake Plant, Spider Plant, Peace Lily, Aloe Vera, Boston Fern, Areca Palm, Bamboo Palm, English Ivy, Rubber Plant and Chinese Evergreen. Besides purifying effects, these plants in beautiful clay pots or ceramic vases add a rustic charm to homes. 7. Eco-friendly Stationery  Beautifully crafted diaries and DIY journal kits made from recycled paper and plantable pens– gifting eco-friendly stationery is not just the new normal but trendy.  It's a thoughtful addition to friends who like to journal and a great way to pique the interest of kids in sustainability. These simple yet well-crafted gifts speak for themselves–simple, elegant and caring. 8. Natural Wicker Home Decor From wicker baskets to organizers to lampshades to wall hangings –the wicker home decor is not only about ethically sourced raw materials and craftsmanship but is useful and classy. They add a unique natural charm to homes and are loved by Gen Z to elders. How about we light up some wicker lamps for this Diwali to juice up the festivities? Their vintage and natural vibes will make the ceilings and bedside tables more calming and elegant.  9. Solar Powered Gadgets  On this Diwali, why stick to traditional options? Let's surprise tech-savvy friends with solar-powered gadgets. Popular solar gadgets include power banks, fitness gadgets, backpacks, and lamps, and the list is expanding as the world is hell-bent on finding clean energy stuff. Make sure to pack them with eco-friendly wrappers and you can add our Laddubar mini pack for a cool pairing—a durable gift with healthy sweets invoking nostalgic flavours! 10. Wholesome Gift Hampers If you wanna level up the whole game, gift hampers are the best way. Assorted Gourmet foods to self-care products, they come in a variety of forms. An ideal one for Diwali is a gift hamper with a mix of premium snacks like ghee-roasted makha, roasted cashews, Laddubars and Kesar. It's an all-encompassing thoughtful gift hamper for everyone– from naughty energy balls to fitness freaks to adorable grandmothers.
Durga puja

7 Healthy Sweets to Celebrate th...

It's October and it's raining festivals in India.  The whole October saga of festivals kicks off with Durga Puja–an irresistible magnetic force that pulls every Bengali to their home at this time of the year, even if you are not a Bengali you probably have seen either in person or through images or videos the breathtaking sculptors of Maa Durga in pandals floating amidst a stream of crowds. Durga Puja: A Celebration of Tradition, Art and Flavours Durga Puja is a celebration of the triumph of good over evil–Goddess Durga killing Demon Mahishasura. The 10-day festival also marks the visit of the goddess to her natal home and return to her divine abode, Kailash.  The whole festive days are abuzz with cultural activities like the iconic processions of beautifully crafted Pandals, Sindoor khela when ladies smear sindoor on idols and at each other, immersing the idols in water, performing puja at home and cooking sumptuous bhog, buying new clothes and visiting relatives.  It's a vibrant harvest festival celebrated with great enthusiasm and is a colourful fusion of art, tradition, flavours and exceptional craftsmanship– no wonder it entered UNESCO's list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Some of the most famous dishes made during Durga Puja include Khichuri, Labra, Beguni, Luchi, Cholar Dal and scrumptious sweets like Rasgulla, Sandesh, Misti Doi, Narkel Naru, Kheer Kadam, Payesh, Chom Chom, Pithe and Labong Latik.  With such varieties of treats beaming at you, it's nearly impossible to keep up with your fitness goals. Amidst such indulgence, if you are looking for some healthy sweets, we have a list for you.   It's a mix of classic Bengali sweets, a refreshing fresh fruit chat, and traditional laddus with a modern spin–Ideal to carry and convenient to eat while you are busy with ‘pandal hopping’ or waiting in queue for a pandal visit. 7 Healthy Sweets for Durga Puja Festival 1. Gur Sandesh  Gur Sandesh is an iconic Bengali sweet made with chana or a type of cheese made by curdling milk by adding vinegar or lemon juice, date palm jaggery locally called nolen gur and a dash of cardamom for flavour.  The cooked Chana and melted jaggery mixture is made into a thick, soft mixture and shaped into various forms like small discs or even fish-shaped using moulds.  You can top it off with grated nuts for a rich festive vibe. It's a perfect sweet finish after a savoury feast.  2. Nolen Gur Narkel Naru Narkel Naru is a type of coconut laddu made in the Bengal region. Laddus are ‘naru’ in Bengal and ‘laru’ in Assam. It's made by shaping a mixture of grated coconut and melted jaggery into balls. For authentic Bengali flavour, the date palm jaggery is a must. Additionally, Narkel Naru is a winter delicacy in Bengali homes due to the warming effect offered by jaggery. There are two versions of Narkel Naru–one that looks whitish and another with a brownish appearance. We are sticking with the brownish version since it's made with jaggery instead of refined sugar. It is one of the durga puja sweets.  3. Misti Doi Misti Doi is a truly desi version of sweet-flavoured yoghurt. If you're a yoghurt lover but worried about harmful flavour additives, you can try Mist Doi.  Made from milk, curd, nuts and sweetened with jaggery. Just with a handful of ingredients, this traditional Bengali treat gives you the perfect yoghurt plus sweet combo you are craving. It is also one of the durga puja special sweets. 4. Fruit Chaat What's more refreshing than a bowl of sliced fresh fruits? Well-they are juicy, tasty and full of nutrients. You can pick fruits like bananas, apples, or any other fruits available that suit your palate.  Go for a homemade mix of spices, black salt and roasted cumin seeds to add flavour and top it off with a teaspoon of lemon juice.  In fact, fresh fruits are integral traditional offerings made to goddesses during Durga Puja.  5. No added Sugar Payesh Payesh or kheer rounds off most of our festive feasts– its creamy, sweet taste gives the perfect wrap-up.  But, can we make a sugar-free yet sweet payesh? Yes! The dates will do the trick. The rice payesh or kheer in Bengal is made with special gobindobhog rice available in that region, you can substitute it with regular Basmati rice.  6. Til Laddu Til or Sesame is not just seeds for Indians; rather, it's an integral part of our culture, traditions and culinary heritage. Simple til laddu can be made with just two ingredients, melted jaggery and til or sesame seeds. Sesame seeds are high in protein and calcium and are known for many health benefits. You can elevate the taste and richness of the dish by adding dry fruits and nutritious seeds like pumpkin and melon seeds. 7. LadduBars To put it simply LadduBars are traditional laddus in a bar format. Made only with kitchen ingredients like dry fruits, these are healthy alternatives to highly processed regular snacks high in refined sugar and other additives.  Pick the flavour of your liking, you can try dry fruit for fuelling up while you are pandal hopping. If you are millet-obsessed like most of the health-conscious buddies these days, try a millet laddubar.  If you are pandal hopping with many friends and wanna share a healthy treat, try laddubar mini– it's a laddubar in adorable mini format, making it fun to eat and share. This is a sweet for navratri fast.
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5 Healthy & Delicious Recipes to...

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The Guru Purnima celebrates the unique bond between teachers and students. Let's celebrate guru Purnima by embracing healthy eating.
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Top 10 Travel Food to Pack for Y...

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The Best Food to Eat in the Rain...

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8 Health and Wellness Tips for O...

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Are you struggling to balance the demands of a busy office life with healthy eating?In fact, there are some simple yet effective steps you can take to ensure wellness and boost your productivity while chasing those deadlines.
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Energy Food and Wars: Culinary T...

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Tracing the Power Diets!

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Did you know astronauts carry algae as food while traveling to space? Well, it's not just because it carries a lot of nutrients, but also because of its ‘sustainable’ nature—a buzzword amidst rising concerns over climate change! But what if I told you that ages before NASA started packing algae for space travelers, the martial artists who practiced Kalaripayattu in India, had algae integral to their menu? 
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Know What You Eat

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The Ancient Superfood, Muskmelon...

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Ginger's Health Boost & Beyond

The Universal Medicine: Ginger's...

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Kamarkas

Kamarkas: Age-Old Superfood for ...

This reddish or blackish-reddish gum, also referred to as Palash Gond, or Gond Chuniya, is a much sought-after ingredient due to its anti-inflammatory properties and is utilized to alleviate joint and back pain and address various inflammatory conditions. It is widely utilized in preparing traditional delicacies like laddus and panjeeri, often consumed by women during and after pregnancy.