Grab Some Souvenirs to Remember Your Time in Asia
When we travel, we create memories, and many of us seek to preserve these memories through souvenirs. Soon you will be in Mumbai for DrupalCon and when you are leaving, you should make sure to pick up something you can always cherish. Here are a few things you can take back from India as souvenirs, regardless of how big or little your budget may be.
Bollywood posters
When you are in India, you can't ignore Bollywood, and in Mumbai, posters are everywhere. Once the only way to promote a movie in India, movie posters are now mostly collected for their vintage appeal. You can find posters at the stalls of streetside vendors and even at some gift shops. Some more searching may get you the hand drawn images that were used on film posters before the emergence of digital photographs.
A picture with a dabbawala
A dabbawala is a person in Mumbai who collects lunch boxes and delivers them to the workplaces of workers. Dabbawalas are famous throughout India and abroad for their efficient way of working. Their supply chain management is recognized across the world-- in fact, some of the most renowned national and international management schools, including Harvard, have studied their way of functioning. Around 200,000 lunch boxes are transported each day by nearly 5,000 dabbawalas across India. Dabbawalas are so popular that even Prince Charles invited them to his wedding. Dressed in white cotton kurta pajamas and a Gandhi cap, you can easily spot them in any major city in India.
Indian postcards
Postcards are a popular souvenir, and can be found all across India. Indian postcards, which were launched during the British rule in India, have come a long way in terms of their size and the kinds of images used on them. Although they have been dying a slow death since the arrival of email, you can still find them at post offices. If you are looking for vintage postcards, you can find them near famous monuments and in antique shops.
Pickles, spices and tea
India, known as the land of spices, has always managed to captivate people visiting the country. It’s not just the spices—some of the other things here that everyone visiting from abroad enjoys greatly are the pickles and the tea. Finding them is not a tough task. You can easily get different varieties of these items at a lot of stores in Mumbai. Although this is one souvenir that you will consume soon after your return, the rich flavours are a great way to remember India.
Shawls and sarees
With so much diversity in India, it doesn’t come as a surprise that there are different types of attire for each state of the country. A couple of the popular types of Indian clothes which people like to try when they come to India are shawls and sarees. Shawls, loosely worn over the shoulders, upper body and arms, can be found in a lot of variety in India. Shawls from the states of Gujarat, Jammu, and Kashmir are famous everywhere for their fine craftsmanship. The same goes for the saree, a popular style of dress among Indian ladies, usually worn everyday. Mumbai has an Urban Haat, a small bazaar to promote crafts and culture. Here you can find authentic outfits from each state of India.
India is a land of diversity, and there are many other things which might catch your fancy on your travels across the country. But these are our top picks for souvenirs you can take back to remember your time here.
Are there any others that you’d like to recommend? Let us know below.
The Drupal Association has partnered with Niswey, an India-based marketing firm, to provide marketing materials for DrupalCon Asia. Every few weeks, we'll be sharing the blogs and comic strips that our Niswey friends have created in anticipation of the convention.
Image credits to Wikipedia: Bollywood Image, Dabbawala Image, Indian Spices Image.
