As India looks back on a year of festivities and personal milestones, a new report from FNP, the Gifting Stack 2025, offers a fascinating deep dive into the nation's changing habits of expressing affection and connection. The annual analysis, built on the gifting behavior of millions, goes beyond what was gifted to reveal how, when, and why Indians are choosing to share meaningful moments.
Speed Meets Sentiment: The New Gifting Mantra
The report underscores a significant shift towards instant gratification without sacrificing thoughtfulness. In a stunning example of modern logistics, the fastest gift of the year was delivered in just 12 minutes across a distance of 8.2 kilometers. This highlights how rapid fulfillment is now a key expectation. However, speed hasn't replaced sentiment. Interestingly, 55% of all gifts were sent in the morning, surpassing orders placed later in the day or even at midnight, indicating a preference for starting a loved one's day on a sweet note.
Regional Flavors and Timeless Classics
While gifting formats evolve, emotional favorites remain constant. Cakes and flowers continued to rule India's gifting heart, with chocolate truffle cakes and rose bouquets emerging as the nationwide top picks. City-level insights paint a picture of India's diverse gifting culture. Delhi claimed the title of the top gifting city, with Mumbai trailing by a razor-thin margin of just 0.65%. Delhi showed a taste for luxury hampers, while Mumbai led the country in romantic gifting.
Other metros showcased distinct preferences: Bengaluru leaned towards plants, whereas Kolkata displayed a strong fondness for cakes and sweets. The tradition of midnight surprises held strong, with Jaipur, Chandigarh, and Lucknow leading in late-night orders to make special days begin perfectly.
Bridging Distances and Personalizing Joy
The report powerfully illustrates that physical separation is no obstacle to connection. One remarkable gesture involved a gift traveling an impressive 2,178 kilometers from Kochi to Srinagar, proving that gifting effectively bridges vast distances. Personalization was a major theme, with Aditya emerging as the most gifted name of the year on cakes and keepsakes. Anjali followed closely, with data showing an average of 27 Anjalis receiving cakes and flowers every single week.
Pop culture also left its mark, with themes like Labubu, Studio Ghibli, and 'Italian brainrot' gaining popularity, especially among younger givers seeking fun and contemporary options. When time was critically short, Indians turned to quick-commerce apps, with over 7 million gifts sent via last-minute platforms like Blinkit, Zepto, and Instamart.
The Gifting Stack 2025 concludes that gifting in India has evolved into a more dynamic, intentional, and personal practice. It is no longer confined to calendars but is a thoughtful way to show up for relationships in real-time, blending speed with deep sentiment and reflecting the country's varied cultural tapestry.
