The great festive gifting disconnect: Millennial gourmet utility meets Gen Z thrifting

While Millennials often gift for practicality and health, Gen Z are prioritising other things. Photos Courtesy: Special Arrangement

While Diwali, the ‘Festival of Lights', has always been an occasion for heartfelt generosity, the festive season is seeing a profound generational shift in values with the exchange of gifts. The act of gifting is no longer a simple transactional exchange of goods; it is a statement of personal philosophy, blending utility with ethical consumption.

While Millennials often gift for practicality and health, their younger counterparts, Gen Z, prioritise experience and ethical sourcing, leading to a delightful clash of kitchen appliances and upcycled candles.

This festive season, readers reveal the most awkward and functional gifts they've received, which predictable ones should be retired, and dwell on the generational disparity of this customary exchange.

The hilariously awkward gift
The most memorable Diwali gifts are frequently the most mismatched, creating a delightful, albeit sometimes awkward, clash of intentions.

Millennial student Praneet Bomma recalls receiving a set of handmade candles from a Gen Z cousin, "Except they were made from melted-down leftover wax from old ones." His initial reaction was disbelief, but the surprise turned to appreciation: "What I had really thought was a weird gift for Diwali, ended up being one of the most creative and memorable gifts I've received. It made me realise that the younger generation really knows how to turn simple ideas into something meaningful and sustainable."

On the flip side, Halle Kotian was less thrilled with a practical offering from the older generation: two Borosil pans. The 22-year-old shares, "I mean, don't get me wrong, they're nice, practical, and I'll probably use them someday but when I opened the gift, all that built-up Diwali excitement fizzled out faster than a sparkler in the rain."

Kotian joked that the gift made her feel very mature. "I was half-expecting something a little more festive chocolates, a candle set, maybe even something quirky or personal. It made me feel like you've officially crossed the threshold into adulthood, when people stop giving you sweets and start giving you kitchenware. Although to be fair, maybe for some people that is fun. But for me? Let's just say I didn't see myself getting emotionally attached to oven-safe glassware this Diwali."

However, sometimes the "old school" gifts come through. Niraj Bomma, client servicing executive at Better Communications, admitted that while receiving a big box of assorted dry fruits from a relative felt super traditional at first, the 24-year-old ended up loving it, "It lasted weeks and became my go-to snack during late-night Netflix binges. Sometimes the old-school gifts actually come through."

The thoughtfulness scale: Intention over indulgence
When judging how 'thoughtful' a gift is, both generations agree on one thing: price matters less than personalisation.

For Praneet, a thoughtful gift is one that feels personal. He shares, "Something that shows the person actually paid attention to what I like or need. It's less about how much they spent and more about the thought behind it." He believes this is where the generations overlap, valuing intention over indulgence.

Niraj strongly echoed this sentiment saying, "For me, it's all about how well the gift matches my personality and values. Even something small feels meaningful if it shows that the person actually knows me like a book I've been wanting to read or a handmade item."

Halle crystallised the feeling, stating the top criterion is how well the gift aligns with her personality and values. "It's about that subtle sense of they really know me. To me, a thoughtful gift is one that says, I see you, I know what makes you smile, and I picked this with that in mind."

The adulting gift: Utility is the new luxury
For Millennials, many of whom are now established homeowners and young parents, the most valued gifts are those that simplify life, promote health, and add genuine, long-term utility to their domestic spaces. Gifts are viewed as investments in quality of life, a concept that often translates into practical household appliances and wellness-focused consumables. While Gen Z might roll their eyes at the Borosil pans, millennials have embraced the utility gift as a sign of progress.

Praneet confessed that the most 'adult' gift he received was an air fryer. "At first, I laughed because it felt too practical. But now, I use it almost every day and swear by it! What once felt like a boring utility item now feels like the smartest gift ever."

Similarly, fellow millennial and public relations executive at Nidhi and Mihir PR, Henali Meghani found an emotional connection with her new appliance. "The coffee machine I got for Diwali felt personal. It's when I realised grown-up gifts can be emotional too. Nothing says welcome to adulthood like being genuinely thrilled about brewing your own perfect cup every morning."

Ethics and sustainability rank high for Gen Z
Gen Z approaches gifting through a lens of conscious consumerism and ethical value. For this generation, a gift's story - its origin, environmental impact, and social benefit - often outweighs its price tag. When asked if it's more important for a gift to be sustainable and ethical, or expensive and high-quality, Niraj was clear: "For me, sustainability definitely wins over price."

Halle expanded on this, noting that a gift that is eco-conscious or supports local artisans feels more personal and aligns with celebrating responsibly. She even tackled the tricky question of pre-owned items, "A vintage silk scarf, a carefully restored piece of jewellery, or a pre-loved coffee-table book with a story behind it, those can feel elegant and meaningful. At the end of the day, the magic lies in the thought and emotion behind the gift, not its retail value."

The future of gifting: Ditching the predictable
The most unified sentiment across both generations is the widespread rejection of the mass-produced, factory-style sweet box.

Millennials Praneet and Henali both agreed to let go of the sweet boxes, with Henali noting, "They'velost their charm somewhere as it feels too transactional now. We all know what happens to the soan papdi gift boxes we usually receive."

Halle thinks of the standard, factory-style boxes as a safe option that feels more like a formality than an actual gift. Niraj also advocates for gifts that feel fresh and thoughtful, "I will skip the predictable gifts that everyone gives every year."

The message is clear: the modern Diwali gifting landscape is no longer defined by grandeur or cost, but by intentionality. Whether you're gifting a healthy air fryer or a sustainable, artisanal hamper, both Millennials and Gen Z demand gifts that are functional, meaningful, and reflective of a shared value system.