Diwali Gifts for Kids: 12 Meaningful Ideas for Families Abroad

Diwali abroad looks a little different. The diyas still glow and the sweets still disappear too fast, but the stories that fill an Indian home in the weeks before the festival don’t always reach a flat in New Jersey, Leicester or Toronto. So many of us want this year’s Diwali gifts for our kids to carry a piece of that story: Rama coming home to Ayodhya after fourteen years, the rows of lamps lit to welcome him, and Lakshmi Puja on the night of the new moon.

We are parents too, and these are the gift ideas we keep coming back to, sorted by age. Every toy below is made for little ones aged 1–5 (the Plush Evil Eye is designed for ages 0–3), certified to ASTM and EN-71 toy-safety standards, and dispatched from India within 24 hours.

For babies: a first Diwali gift

1. Small Baby Ganesha. Ganesha is worshipped first at every puja, Lakshmi Puja included, so he is a natural first deity for a baby. Our small Baby Ganesha is about 23 cm, has a hanging loop for the car seat or stroller, and chants Ganesha mantras and his aarti at a gentle volume when you press his tummy.

2. Baby Ganesha & Devi Lakshmi. On Diwali night Ganesha and Lakshmi sit side by side on the altar. The Ganesha & Lakshmi combo puts that pair in a baby’s hands, each one chanting its own mantras, and it costs less than buying the two separately.

3. Plush Evil Eye. Plenty of families keep a nazar battu close to a new baby. Our Plush Evil Eye is a soft, cheerful take on it, with a gentle rattle for little hands, made for ages 0–3.

A note for the very youngest: our plush toys are designed for ages 1–5. For babies under one, enjoy them together, supervised, and keep soft toys out of the sleep space.

For toddlers (1–3): something to hug and press

4. Devi Lakshmi. The goddess of the evening herself. Choose the small Devi Lakshmi for the diaper bag or the medium for proper hugs. Both chant Lakshmi mantras when you press the tummy.

5. Baby Rama. Diwali is Rama’s homecoming, and toddlers love a hero. Baby Rama is our medium plush (about 30 cm) and chants Rama mantras, so the story you tell at bedtime has a face and a voice.

6. Baby Rama & Baby Hanuman. Act out the whole Ramayana, from Hanuman’s leap to Lanka to the return to Ayodhya, with the Rama & Hanuman combo. Two chanting plush friends, one lower price.

7. My First Book of Mantras. A press-to-play sound book with 25 mantras plus the complete Hanuman Chalisa. My First Book of Mantras charges over USB-C and has a volume slider, which is handy when the house is full of guests and the little one needs a quiet corner and a calming routine.

For preschoolers (3–5): stories, puzzles and pooja play

8. Festivals of India puzzle. Four jigsaws in one box, Durga Pooja, Shivratri, Diwali and Holi, from 9 to 24 pieces so they get gradually harder. The Festivals of India puzzle is a lovely way to talk about why we light diyas while small hands fit the pieces together. Find more in Books & Games.

9. Storyteller Grandma or Dadima. Not every child abroad has a grandparent nearby during the festival. Storyteller Grandma tells five Hindu deity tales and sings two lullabies in English, and Storyteller Dadima does the same in Hindi. A cosy, screen-free end to a busy festival day.

10. Marigold Plush Mala. Preschoolers want to help with the puja. Give them their own Marigold Plush Mala to garland their plush deity. It is fabric only, with no wire, beads or loose petals.

For siblings and cousins

11. Krishna, Ganesha & Hanuman set. Our most-gifted set: the small trio costs less than three singles, and each plush chants its own mantras. Easy to split between three little cousins, or to keep together on one shelf.

12. A bundle for the whole family. Our gift sets and bundles include the medium trio, Krishna & Hanuman packs and a set of four mantra pillows. Add gift wrap at checkout and you are done. Prefer to pick singles? Browse all small plushies.

Baby’s first Diwali: a keepsake idea

Start a tradition this year: photograph your baby next to the same plush every Diwali. The plush stays the same size; your child does not. Take the picture in soft evening light before the diyas are lit, keep every flame well away from the baby and the toy, and write the year on the back of the print. In five years you will have a small, sweet series of Diwalis.

Sending a Diwali gift from far away

Grandparents, aunts and uncles who live in another city or country can order here and simply enter the child’s address at checkout. Add gift wrap, and we will dispatch from India within 24 hours.

Shop this list

• Baby Ganesha (small)
• Baby Ganesha & Devi Lakshmi combo
• Baby Rama (medium)
• Baby Rama & Baby Hanuman combo
• My First Book of Mantras
• Festivals of India puzzle

Diwali gift FAQ

Will my order arrive before Diwali?

Orders ship from India within 24 hours. Delivery then takes 8–12 days to the USA, Canada and Europe and 7–10 days to the UK, Singapore and UAE, so order by 26 October (USA, Canada, Europe) or 28 October (UK, Singapore, UAE) for delivery by 8 November. Australia takes 15–20 days, so it’s too late for Diwali there this year.

Is shipping free?

Shipping is free on orders over US$75 (or the local equivalent), and we cover import duties on US orders.

What if something arrives damaged?

Email us within 72 hours of delivery with your order number and a short video, and we will replace the item or refund the product cost. Shipping charges are not refunded.

What age are these gifts for?

Our plush toys and the Book of Mantras are designed for ages 1–5. The Plush Evil Eye is designed for ages 0–3.

Is it respectful to give a deity as a toy?

Many families see it as the way they learnt themselves: closeness first, ritual later. Our designs are gentle “baby” forms made to be loved and handled with care, and many parents keep them near the home mandir or the cot rather than in the toy box.

Wishing your family a bright, happy Diwali. Looking for a particular deity? Browse Ganesha, Krishna and Hanuman, or all our mantra chanting toys.