Celebrate Festivals with Different Types of Dry Fruits

Fruits, which are rich in vitamins and minerals, dried naturally or with the help of machines are known as dry fruits. Today there is a wide assortment of dried fruits available in most of the online and offline stores at affordable price rates. Some of the most common dry fruits available in bulk include raisins, dates, apricots, cashew nuts, almonds, walnuts, figs, prunes and plums.

Significance of Dry Fruits

Compared to the ordinary fresh fruits, dry fruits last longer as it is preserved by dehydrating the water content from the fruits. Rich in nutritional value, most of the people consume dry fruits during winters as it helps to increase blood supply of the body. Numerous varieties of dry fruits are available during festive seasons particularly during Diwali and Raksha Bhandan.

The dry fruits are wrapped in beautifully decorated baskets, silver plates, golden plates and gift boxes. Some of the most commonly found dry fruits include the following:

Dates: Being a rich source of iron, calcium and protein, dates are consumed by people all over the world. It is considered an ideal part of a healthy diet. It is usually consumed along with warm milk to increase weight and strength.

Almonds and cashews: The most popular dry fruits include almonds and cashews which are quite rich in nutritional value. Both almond and cashews are considered ideal gifts in festive seasons as it is healthy and promotes overall well-being.

Figs: Although quite delicious, most people tend to overlook the beneficial properties of figs. Figs are rich in fiber and promote health in many ways. It is sugary in taste and is available in most of the dry fruit gift collections.

Raisins: One of the richest sources of iron and vitamin C, raisins are basically dried grapes. It is considered to be an ideal food to cure constipation and to promote weight.

Walnuts: Another popular variety of dry fruit is walnut which is also a rich source of vitamins and minerals. Being a rich source of omega-3 fatty acid, it can be consumed to prevent heart diseases and other health disorders.

Dry fruits can be bought from leading online suppliers at affordable rates today (Can be found on suppliers directory quite easily). Moreover, there are many online portals which showcase a variety of dry fruits at reasonable prices.

What Different Varieties of Handmade Gifts Are Popular

Handmade gifts are popular for more than one reason. Firstly, they represent the love and affection more clearly than gifts from other categories. Secondly, one can find unique handmade items that work as ideal gifts for special people in life. Another good reason for their popularity is that they carry a personalized touch.

Besides, gifts made by hand allow their makers to make use of their creativity. All such reasons add to the popularity of handmade gift items. Going further, one can find these gift items popular in different categories. The availability of handmade gifts in huge variety too makes them hot and happening items. Here is a discussion about different varieties of these gift items that help people choose the best for their beloved ones.

Handmade Jewelry Items
What could be more special and enthralling than handmade jewelry items? Necklaces and bracelets made using different constituents like beads, pearls and crystals and metals like bronze and copper are great gift items for special women in one’s life. Brooches and bracelets are some of the popular items that can be gifted to men. Available in different shapes, sizes and colors, these handmade gifts bear classiness.

Hand-woven Gift Items
Another category of gifts which is popular among people is that of hand-woven items. Hand-woven t-shirts, for example, are unique gift items that can be found in different designs and patterns and are cherished by the recipients. Hand-woven sweatshirts and hoodies too are good items that make good gifts for people from different age groups.

One may also think of hand woven baskets as handmade gifts that are appreciated by one and all. They are designed in different styles and with different dimensions and can be used for many purposes. Hand-woven aprons and blankets are other items worth mentioning in this category.

Pottery and Decors
Handmade gifts that can be used to decorate different parts of a house also qualify as worthy gift items. The best example can be that of pottery items which include flower pots and vases crafted by skilled artists. Pottery items for serving food can also be considered as ideal choices for gifting.

Home decors like wall paintings and wood art are designed with great details by expert artists. They can be used for decoration purposes in the living room, bedroom, corridors and other parts of a house. As a result, people find them exciting gift items on various occasions. Handmade candles too need a mention in this category as they are beautiful pieces for decoration.

Handmade gifts that can be personalized to add to their worth are all in rage. These include pottery items like coffee mugs that can be personalized by imprinting names, dates and images. T-shirts too can be treated the same way with personalized messages, names and photos. Photo frames and photo albums are other items that can be prepared in this way and are wonderful items for gifting. An online store of handmade gifts can make good profit by selling items in all these categories as these special gift items are among the most apt ways to shower love and emotions.

Handmade Gift Ideas for Upcoming Raksha Bandhan Festival

Raksha bandhan is an Indian festival wherein the glorious relationship between a brother and a sister is celebrated. Apart from the Hindu community all over the world, the Sikh community also celebrates this festival which mostly falls in the month of August.

The ceremony involves the tying of a Rakhee (a thread) by a sister on the wrists of her brother along with some traditions. This festival has 2 aspects, one each for the brother and the sister. The sister prays for the well-being of her brother and the brother in return vows to protect her all his life. The most exciting part of this festival is the culmination which is an exchange of sweets and gifts; sweets to the brother and gifts to the sister.

Like there are thousands of sweets, there are ditto number of gifts through which brothers can display their love towards their sisters. From expensive jewelry to aesthetic mobile phones, a good run of imagination can produce the best of gifts. But, what would be the best gift for a sister who prays for her brother’s happiness? The best gift is always sculpted by your own hands, and not cultivated with money.

Handmade gifts are closer to heart because these involve raw emotions molded with imagination. There are many small to medium sized handmade gifts which can be made without much of an effort. Some great ideas to make handmade gifts for Raksha bandhan are discussed as follows:

• Handmade greeting cards
• Handmade collage
• Handmade collection of photographs
• Handmade calendars
• Self-made flower bouquets
• Self-made sweets or dishes

One of the best and also the loveliest handmade gifts for Raksha bandhan are greeting cards. You can take a print out of your photograph (yours and your sisters’ photograph works well), then have it wrapped like a greeting card with sketches, messages and other things.

Also, an artistic collage or a collage which includes a collection of childhood pictures is like spraying the paint of memories on your sister. Likewise, handmade calendars with small cute messages have been popular since some time now. This requires the use of a small spiral binding and some artistic skills to work out better.

In addition, one can buy different flowers to make a small colorful bouquet to be gifted; self-collected and arranged flower bouquets are considered one of the best handmade gifts for Raksha bandhan and even for other occasions. Lastly, sweets are a bait which most fall for and making a sweet dish or even a special food dish for your sister (best bargain is trying her favorite) would be simply sweet, and delicious as well.

Apart from these items there are hundreds of other handmade gifts for Raksha bandhan (produced by artists and artisans) which have enjoyed a good patronage over the years.