Unwrapping the gifts

When you think of the custom of giving gifts, you can’t help re membering the Japanese people. They are perhaps the most frequent givers and takers of gifts. But this customs is not unique to the Japanese. The Hindus also have this belief that they shouldn’t visit the God, Guru and the elders with empty hands. They should take something along with them. And gifts needn’t always be material. One can give gifts of words in the form of written cards and even electronic cards. What people give as gifts mainly depend on how much money they can spend and how important is the receiver of the gift.

Upahar, koseli and saugat are the most frequently used Nepali synonyms for the word gift. The words Upahar and koseli have Sanskrit root and the word saugat is a Turkish word. Types of gifts range from personal gifts given to friends and family to political gifts given by one country to another. In our country also we have this century old tradition of gift exchange between neighboring countries. The state level gifts sent to China from time to time are documented by historians and the lists of gifts sent are quite interesting. The former Nepalese ambassador to China Niranjan Bhattarai in his book on Nepalese-China relation writes that among various things that King Narendra Dev sent to China in AD 648 were spinach and onion seeds. What Nepal received from the Chinese side during the reign of kind Matisingh was no less interesting. Emperor Ming Yeichu had sent him special letter bearing his seal and many goods made from silk.

Gyan Mani Nepal in his book ‘Nepal-Bhot Chin Sambandha Ka Kehi Sanskritik Pakchya’

mentions about gift items sent to China during the regency of Bahadur Shah and king Rana Bahadur Shah. Among many things horses and elephants were sent to China which the Chinese emperors soon put a stop to because most of them perished on the way to their destination. Even nutmegs, clover and guns formed the part of the gift package sent there.

According to the historical documentation, Nepalese side has been no less generous to her northern neighbour, India in terms of giving gifts. Rana Prime Minister Mohan Samsher had presented Indira Gandhi a diamond necklace worth 50,000 during his state visit to India in the 1950s. King Rajendra Bikram Shah had sent a garland made from the navel of musk deer to the king of Gwaliyar in India.

In today’s world the practice of gift giving is even more widespread especially personal gift giving trend. Gift shops around each and every nook and corner of main streets in the cities give ample testimony to this fact. The younger generation of Nepalese are even more into it than the older generation. Every occasion is a gift giving and receiving occasion. During occasions like birthdays, anniversary of every kind to promotion and good results in the exams, giving gifts and receiving them has become common.

HEADLINE | SECOND-PAGE