Festive Gifting
Unique Holi Gifts for Employees, Beyond Colours and Sweets
By Gifting by Cladure Team9 min read
If your company sent mithai at Diwali and a hamper at the New Year, a third box of sweets in March can feel like a repeat. A gift that steps away from mithai stands out, and it suits colleagues who do not eat sugar or do not celebrate the festival. The trick is to keep a clear link to what Holi means: the arrival of spring, colour, time with family, and the start of the warm months.
Quick answer: For a Holi gift that is not sweets or colours, choose something tied to spring and the summer ahead: a seed paper colouring book for employees' children, a plantable notebook, an insulated bottle with steel cups, a printed copper bottle set, or a herbal tea. Most of these sit between ₹150 and ₹1,000, and the copper sets reach about ₹1,700. Pair any of them with a printed Holi card so the link to the festival is clear.
Why look beyond colours and sweets?
- Colours are best left to the celebration. Gulal is bought fresh for the day and used once; a packet in a corporate box is rarely used, and loose powder can stain the rest of the gift.
- Sweets are the default. They are welcome, but they also arrive from relatives and neighbours all through Holi week.
- Not everyone eats sugar. Diabetic colleagues, people on fitness plans and those observing a fast need a gift that is not an apology.
- Not everyone celebrates Holi. A gift about spring and summer works for every colleague, so nobody receives a festival gift that does not fit them.
- A useful gift is remembered. Something used every day in April and May keeps the gesture visible far longer than a box of barfi.
What to consider when choosing a non-food Holi gift
We looked for gifts that connect to the season (spring, colour, the start of summer), that are useful at home or at work, that suit people of any background, and that ship safely to homes and offices across India. We also checked that each could carry a brand naturally, either on the product or on its packaging.
Unique Holi gifts for employees in 2027
Seed paper colouring book for employees' children
Holi is a festival children love, and a colouring book printed on seed paper gives them something colourful to do that ends up as plants on a windowsill. At under ₹200 it suits a whole company, and it makes a lovely add-on to a family hamper. It is flat and light, so it costs little to send home. Ask in the quote whether a branded cover or a printed band is possible.
Example from our rangeBioQ Seed Paper Colouring BookFrom ₹157 per unit, indicativePlantable notebook
A notebook made of seed paper ties neatly to spring: once it is used up, the pages can be planted. At around ₹200 it suits interns, graduate hires and teams that care about sustainability. It works as a stand-alone gift with a card, or as a desk item in a larger box. The cover usually takes printing; the quote confirms the method.
Example from our rangeBioQ A5 Plantable NotebookFrom ₹201 per unit, indicativeInsulated bottle with two steel cups
Holi marks the end of winter, and a bottle that keeps water cold through April and May is a gift that is used daily. With two steel cups it also works for a family picnic or a road trip during the summer holidays. It sits around ₹800 and suits field teams, commuters and parents. A small logo on the bottle looks natural; whether it is engraved or printed is confirmed per product in the quote.
Example from our rangeInsulated Bottle with 2 Steel CupsFrom ₹799 per unit, indicativeTwo-bottle steel refresh set
Two one-litre steel bottles in a set means one stays at the desk and one goes home, which is how bottles actually get used in summer. It sits around ₹550, so it is one of the more affordable non-food options for a large team. It suits employees at every level, including support staff who spend long hours on their feet. Branding can go on the bottles or on the gift box, confirmed in the quote.
Example from our rangeSkyline Refresh Set: 2 Steel Bottles 1 LFrom ₹549 per unit, indicativePrinted copper bottle gift set
A printed copper bottle brings colour and tradition together, which suits Holi better than plain metal. It sits around ₹1,400 and suits managers and senior employees, or long-serving staff you want to recognise. Copper is a familiar daily habit in many Indian homes, so it will be used. Keep branding to the gift box and card, as the print is already the design.
Example from our rangePrinted Copper Bottle Gift SetFrom ₹1,399 per unit, indicativePeacock garden copper set
A copper set with a peacock and garden motif feels like spring on a dining table and is a good fit for senior employees and leadership. At around ₹1,700 it is the most expensive pick here, so reserve it for leadership or a handful of long-serving staff. It makes a strong client gift too. Present it in a branded box with a personal card.
Example from our rangePeacock Garden Copper SetFrom ₹1,699 per unit, indicativeRed enamel brass bowl and tumbler set
A bright red enamel finish brings the festival's colour into something used at home every day. At under ₹300 it is the cheapest keepsake on this list, and it pairs naturally with the seed paper colouring book in a family set. Enamel on brass handles courier journeys better than painted ceramics. Branding stays on the box and card.
Example from our rangeRed Enamel Brass Bowl and Tumbler SetFrom ₹269 per unit, indicativeLemongrass and hibiscus tea
A deep-red herbal tea of lemongrass and hibiscus is a colourful drink for the warm evenings that follow Holi, and it is a welcome change from sweets. At around ₹300 it suits any colleague, including those who do not celebrate the festival. It is light to ship and keeps well, so it can wait at reception for anyone on leave. A printed card ties it to the occasion.
Example from our rangeHalwai Pop – Whispers in Bloom Lemongrass Hibiscus TeaFrom ₹315 per unit, indicativeCoffee concentrate for cold coffee
A coffee concentrate turns into iced coffee with cold milk or water in under a minute, which suits the months after Holi. At under ₹200 it suits younger teams, coffee drinkers and offices with a strong café culture. Add it to a steel bottle for a summer-themed gift around ₹800 to ₹1,000. Branding goes on the gift sleeve and card.
Example from our rangeBlue Tokai Signature Drop - Specialty Coffee ConcentrateFrom ₹175 per unit, indicative
Budget guide for non-food Holi gifts
| Band | Gift ideas | Who it suits | Branding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under ₹300 | Seed paper colouring book, plantable notebook, enamel brass bowl set, hibiscus tea, coffee concentrate | All employees, families, large teams | Printed card; cover print where offered |
| ₹300 to ₹800 | Steel refresh set, insulated bottle with cups, a small combination of two items | Most employees, field and support teams | Engraving or print on steel; sleeve and card |
| ₹800 to ₹1,800 | Printed copper bottle set, peacock garden copper set | Managers, senior staff, key clients | Branded box and personal card |
Prices are indicative per unit. The written quote confirms the final price, branding, GST, delivery date and the minimum order quantity for each product. For more ideas in these ranges, see gifts under ₹500, gifts under ₹2,000 and our best eco-friendly corporate gifts.
Three ways to combine these gifts
- The family set: a seed paper colouring book with a red enamel brass bowl and tumbler set, about ₹430 in products. Good for teams with many young parents.
- The summer set: an insulated bottle with two cups and a coffee concentrate or hibiscus tea, about ₹1,000. Good for field teams and commuters.
- The spring desk set: a plantable notebook and a hibiscus tea with a printed Holi card, about ₹500. Good for interns, graduate hires and hybrid teams.
You can assemble any of these in a branded box through build your gift box, or read custom Holi gift boxes with your logo for placements and sample builds.
When to order for Holi 2027
Holika Dahan is on Sunday 21 March 2027 and Holi on Monday 22 March. For most offices the hand-out is on Friday 19 March. Because non-food gifts have no best-before date, they can be delivered a little earlier than sweets, which takes pressure off the final week:
- January: choose the gift or combination, fix quantities and confirm the budget, as Holi falls in the last weeks of the financial year.
- By early February: request a quote with branding, quantities and delivery cities.
- Mid February: approve engraving or print mockups and the card design.
- Early March: dispatch as per the quote; non-food gifts can arrive in the week of 8 March and be stored safely.
- Friday 19 March: hand out gifts at the office, and confirm remote employees have received theirs.
These are suggestions, not delivery promises; lead times are confirmed in the written quote.
Packing and delivery notes
- Steel and copper need inner protection. Ask for each bottle to be wrapped so it arrives without dents or scratches.
- Seed paper should stay dry. Store it away from pantry areas and plants before the hand-out.
- Home delivery suits non-food gifts. With no expiry date to worry about, they can go directly to remote employees in other cities. We are based in Delhi NCR and deliver across India.
- Keep a short list of extras. New joiners in March are common; a few spare units save a second order.
Want the full picture for Holi, including client gifts and HR ideas? Read our corporate Holi gifts 2027 guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can we give employees for Holi other than sweets?
Gifts tied to spring and the summer ahead work well: a seed paper colouring book for children, a plantable notebook, an insulated bottle with steel cups, a printed copper bottle set or a herbal tea.
Should we include Holi colours in a corporate gift?
Usually not. Colours are bought fresh for the celebration and used once, and loose powder can stain other items in the box. If you hold an office celebration, arrange colours separately for the event.
Are these gifts suitable for colleagues who do not celebrate Holi?
Yes. Gifts themed on spring and summer, such as bottles, tea or plantable stationery, suit every colleague, and a card about the season keeps the message inclusive.
How much do unique Holi gifts cost?
Most of the picks here sit between about ₹150 and ₹1,000 at indicative prices, with copper sets around ₹1,400 to ₹1,700. The written quote confirms the final price, GST and delivery.
Can these gifts carry our logo?
Steel bottles usually take engraving or printing, and stationery covers can often be printed. Copper sets and food items are branded on the box and card. Methods and minimum quantities are confirmed per product in the quote, with a mockup where available.
Can you send these gifts to employees' homes?
Yes. We are based in Delhi NCR and deliver across India. Non-food gifts have no best-before date, which makes home delivery to remote employees simpler.
