Just about everybody likes sweets.

And truly, it's the thought that counts.

Have done New Year gifts, in similar situations.

That's very kind of you to think of him. I think some kind of candy would be welcome and if, in the rare possibility he's a vegan and there's milk chocolate in the box, he'd be just as appreciative of the gesture, as anyone would be.

I don't know if you know but many "Indians" are Muslims - India has the largest Muslim minority population of any country, something over 200 million of them. Sikhs, by comparison, are a very small minority.

I would not wait until New Years or after. Even if he is non Christian or non religious, it is highly unlikely he will take offense to a gift. Sharing culture is one of the joys of life. I would be touched if a person of a religion I did not practice or a culture I was not raised in gave me a gift in order to spread the joy of THEIR special season. However, if you are worried about him feeling like you are foisting your religion on him with a gift, I would include a note that says that during this time of year, which is so special to you and your loved ones, you wanted to give a small token to demonstrate how much you appreciate him and his hard work and how valuable he is to your town. I would steer clear of homemade things to be honest. I do not eat random peoples home cooking. A big food gift basket or box of chocolates would be nice.

How kind you are!

Hey Elmer, I don't know what your source of data is for Muslim population by country, but my source says this. It's not India.

"Indonesia

Around 62% of the world's Muslims live in the Asia-Pacific region (from Turkey to Indonesia), with over one billion adherents. The largest Muslim population in a country is in Indonesia, a country home to 12.7% of the world's Muslims, followed by Pakistan (11.1%), India (10.9%) and Bangladesh (9.2%)."

I don't think there's any Indian religion which denies adherents the right to enjoy sweets. Liquor, beef and pork are problematic depending on the religion but candies, sweet desserts, etc are ubiquitous in that part of the world.

I think you missed a word in my sentence - "minority".

From recollection, i think you're right - I believe Indonesia has the world's largest Muslim population, greater than any other country. But Muslims are an overwhelming majority there. My sentence was that India has the largest Muslim minority population of all nations. Muslims have had a significant presence there for centuries. Most Americans don't know that what's perhaps the most recognized structure in India - the Taj Mahal - is a mausoleum built by a Muslim ruler and has a mosque onsite as part of the complex.

The governments (India vs Pakistan, and India internally) don't do much to try to overcome the historic enmities between the groups and if anything, continue policies to encourage division based on differences. My experience of those from that area I've known here is that most view one another as members of the same extended family on a broad scale with more in common than not.

Edit to add - Oops, sorry, best wishes for a speedy recovery from your procedure.

"I don't think there's any Indian religion which denies adherents the right to enjoy sweets."

You too missed a word I mentioned - vegan - and why. Of course, candies, desserts and the rest are enjoyed everywhere but my comment was that a vegan wouldn't eat milk chocolate.

If he owns a grocery store, I'm not sure I would give a food item.

And again, if you don't know food preferences, and this runs the gamut, allergies, vegan, kosher. etc.

Are you in a cold climate? How about a scarf? Gloves? Amazon gift card?

Elmer - I have met many Indian vegetarians but that's a very different thing from being a vegan. Most Hindu vegetarians adore chocolate.

It seems like anyone and everyone knows most people are celebrating this time of year. It is also known that gifts of gratitude are common. Secular/religious makes no difference the gift given will be understood. If you want your gift to be truly for the store owner, than it is important to respect his dietary restrictions so I would skip food and give a gift certificate so they can make the choice. How difficult to find out if there are restrictions for you to be concerned about?

"I have met many Indian vegetarians but that's a very different thing from being a vegan"

Of course it's different - you still want to overlook that what I said was correct? What's your point?

Elmer - read the title of the posting. The OP is asking what to do since she doesn't know the gentleman's religion. And I said responded to her conundrum by stating that: " I don't think there's any Indian religion which denies adherents the right to enjoy sweets."

My comment was directed directly at her dilemma, which is about whether there are religious restrictions on sweets. None of the major Indian religions, not even Jainism, are vegan. So I regarded your comment as irrelevant to the discussion.

I believe the OP was more worried about the timing of the gift being centered around a certain religious holiday than the actual gift. (Please correct me OP if I am incorrect. That is how I read it.) Fact is, its hard to know what someones religion, food preference, allergies, restrictions (either religious or just plain morality based, which many vegans claim), weird aversions (like how I do not eat homemade stuff from people I do not know VERY well) personal taste, what they need or want, hobbies, likes and dislikes, etc, if the person is not a personal friend. In this case, the OP stated that she would include a note stating that if the gentlemen did not wish to consume the gift, to feel free to share it with his customers, which is why I feel like the question was more about timing than the actual gift.

I do think that any gift would be appreciated for the gesture, if not the substance of it. Most people would appreciate the thought I would think.

This year, among other things I was given a 25 dollar Starbucks gift card from one of the trucking companies that we deal with at work. I have never been in a Starbucks and likely never will as I hate coffee and its aroma but I was very touched at the gesture of it. I thought that it was very thoughtful for this company (which is really just the owner and another driver) to think about us at such a time of year when people tend to be caught up in the demands of family and the stress of the season. I suspect that even if the OP gave a simple, well worded card of thanks and a candy cane to this gentleman, he would be pleased. I would.

It's the closing of the year and so many religions and cultures do recognize that with celebrations, so a gift would not be out of line.

Indeed. And Indians are in any case very aware of other religions and their important festivals.  I doubt any of them would be offended by a gift at one of those festival times.

"So I regarded your comment as irrelevant to the discussion."

Why did you twice cite my name in a response? No need to answer, your redirection effort to insult is clear

Hey, Amylou, with regards to your Starbucks gift card. They have a lot of really nice sweet treats. You could use it to buy some for your fellow workers. I'm sure they would love that. I won't drink their coffee either but their hot chocolate is good and their treats are quite yummy!!

You are nicer than me murraysmam. I do way too much for my coworker throughout the year to even consider spending my gift card on them....the cretins. The hot chocolate idea sounds way better!

I switched from Christmas gifts to New Year gifts for acquaintances (like business owners or staff) whom I don't know well enough to know their religious preferences. Some non-Christians celebrate Christmas, others don't. Most Indians are Hindu, but 20% aren't. Some first and second generation Americans of Indian descent (Indo-Americans?) maintained their family religion from home, others didn't. So I decided on secular New Years cards and gifts.

I would avoid food or drink, unless it's something homemade. Otherwise, perhaps a gift card to a major online retailer, since you're in a tiny village (like Amazon, Apple, Google, etc).

Starbucks has nice non-coffee drinks (like teas and hot chocolates) and nice baked goods and lunch snacks.

Elmer - my original comment was not directed to you but to the OP. It was you who then came at me by quoting what I'd said. Twice. Only you know why you felt it necessary to try to start an argument.  I merely responded to each of your comments. And considering my opinion  of your behaviour, my responses were both quite genteel.

I'm wondering if there's a gift that would be even more helpful to his business....write a positive review, take an ad out for him in the local paper praising his efforts...buy gift certificates to his store to give to friends and neighbors...

But as he's running a market, I would think a non-food gift would be safer....everyone needs and wears socks and there are some fun ones around or go for bombas. Especially for someone who's on his feet all day.

I would not give a food gift to someone who sells food - either you buy the food from him (and then are giving him something he already has) or you buy it from one of his competitors, and that might be offensive.

If someone gave me a Starbucks gift card, I would regift it. If you live in a small village there might not even be a Starbucks where you live. In fact, I regift all gift cards that I receive.

Personally, I think that cash is the best gift in this case, as it will be the most useful gift. You can put it in a very nice card and hand write a personal note to tell him how much you appreciate him. If I were the store owner, this would mean to most to me. I see this as somewhat like giving a tip, as you might to your pool maintenance person or house cleaner.