Gift for Arangetram

[Anonymous]

DS has been invited to his high school friend's Arangetram. I think he should bring a cash gift. If that's an appropriate gift, what would be an amount from a fellow student? TIA.

[Anonymous]

Bring flowers. $15 at Trader Joe’s.

[Anonymous]

Cash or gift card. Any amount in your budget is good. It’s the thought that counts.

If you do give cash, it’s customary to add $1 to the amount for good luck. So $21, 51, 101, etc.

If it’s not in the budget, that’s okay too. A card with a nice note is cool too.

[Anonymous]

Assuming DS is not Desi then a gift will not be expected but will be appreciated. Cash is always vastly preferred and it is opposite of the general American cash is tacky rule. $21 is a good suggestion unless theyve been friends since elementary school in which case $51 is better.

Put it this way. First cousins will likely give $51 or $101.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Assuming DS is not Desi then a gift will not be expected but will be appreciated. Cash is always vastly preferred and it is opposite of the general American cash is tacky rule. $21 is a good suggestion unless theyve been friends since elementary school in which case $51 is better.

Put it this way. First cousins will likely give $51 or $101.

One more thing to add. An arangetram is roughly equivalent to a high school graduation in terms of cultural importance.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I've read about it and understand that it is a very significant event and that many of these celebrations can be quite extravagant. I didn't want him showing up underdressed and well, with an inappropriate gift. Thank you for all your responses.

[Anonymous]

+ 1 to a gift card for 21,51, 101, etc. If I know the person well, I give a gift card to a store they like, because I know most people give cash.

[Anonymous]

Wow, OP, thanks for posting that question. My heart is full thinking how normal this stuff is now. /Indian American who remembers how different the 80s were.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, OP, thanks for posting that question. My heart is full thinking how normal this stuff is now. /Indian American who remembers how different the 80s were.

+1. All the feels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, OP, thanks for posting that question. My heart is full thinking how normal this stuff is now. /Indian American who remembers how different the 80s were.

+1. All the feels.

Same. I love this time and this region. I would have been embarrassed to invite any of my school friends to mine.

[Anonymous]

Never heard of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never heard of it.

It's a giant dance recital with some religious undertones. Takes a decade of training to achieve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, OP, thanks for posting that question. My heart is full thinking how normal this stuff is now. /Indian American who remembers how different the 80s were.

Same! I can’t even imagine this question when I was in high school in the late 80s. Thank you, OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, OP, thanks for posting that question. My heart is full thinking how normal this stuff is now. /Indian American who remembers how different the 80s were.

+1. All the feels.

As a white American with lots of Indian & Indian-American friends and relatives…. agree!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never heard of it.

Google it. Educate yourself.