A friend shot the clip, the other narrated the lines and Arshdeep happily posed in the video that to his surprise made him an overnight sensation on social media.
The short vlog shows the 22-year-old student hastily stacking gift after gift for his family, relatives and next-door neighbours in his mid-size suitcase until it is packed to the gills.
Highlights
- 22-year-old Indian student's TikTok video goes viral on social media
- The video showcases the curious case of 'Indian gifting etiquette' that some claim has become an 'obligation'
- Indians travelling home claim spending on gifts for every member of the family affects their budget
What catches the eye are the items he is packing, which are not ordinary souvenirs or tokens-they are in fact expensive and branded-costing upwards of $50 each.
'More gifts than clothes'
Speaking to SBS Punjabi, Mr Khaira said the idea of the video occurred to him when he was packing for his impending annual visit home to Gurdaspur in the northern Indian state of Punjab.
“It’s nothing extraordinary. In fact, if you ever chance upon any Indian traveller’s suitcase who is visiting home, you’d be surprised to find more gift items in his luggage than clothes or other necessary items that people usually carry when they’re travelling overseas,” said Mr Khaira.
Sydney-based student Arshdeep Singh Khaira packing his suitcase ahead of his annual trip to India. Source: Supplied
And if you scroll down and take a moment to read the comments underneath the video, the words “very true” arguably seem to be the most repetitive of all comments made on the video.
While in Indian culture, like any other, gifts are usually given on special occasions or as a mark of love, appreciation or respect to the loved ones.
Mr Khaira, however, claims for most of the people settled outside India, gift-giving etiquette has over the years evolved into a form of “obligation that they are expected to fulfil, be at any cost.”
“I have a huge family, and everyone expects you to bring gifts, be it big or small, even your distant relatives have high expectations. And If you don’t, people do get offended.”
He added that “the only person perhaps who genuinely looks forward to your visit, more than the suitcase is your mother,” a sentiment that Arshdeep and his friends have befittingly captured in the climax of the video.
I think that mothers are the only ones waiting for you and not the material gifts.
“I believe the real reason behind the video going viral is the fact that every Indian family goes through this process of hunting down gifts. While you lovingly buy gifts for your immediate family, buying presents for everyone else becomes a financial burden," he added.
Gurminder Singh is an IT professional based in Melbourne who left for India last week. He said he finds the whole process right from choosing, buying and then carrying those gifts to India is an “ordeal.”
Gurminder Singh Source: Supplied
“First you must make a list of the recipients, then you chalk out the budget for the presents, then you have to make another list of who to give what and then you have to ensure you have enough luggage allowance to accommodate all those gifts alongside your own stuff,” said Mr Singh.
'Gifting Indians, products that are made in India, makes no sense'
The 33-year-old added that this time around when he calculated the amount that he had shelled just on buying gifts for his parents, siblings and the extended members of his family, the total left him short of $2,000 from his hard-earned savings.
“There have been times when I have thought of cancelling my trip just because of the overhead expense one has to incur on these gifts. I often joke one could make a budget trip to Europe for the cost we Indians spend on these formalities.
“And for what?” questioned Mr Singh.
“The dainty stuff we end up buying for our folks back in India from stores which sell clothes and items largely manufactured in India, Bangladesh or China. So what’s the point? We are quite literally giftings Indians- made in India products." 
Simran Kakkar, a call centre employee based in Melbourne said, she likes buying gifts for her loved ones as long as they fit in her budget and would be useful.
Shopping bags and gift items scattered in a room. Source: Supplied
“It’s just a token to remind people that I love that I missed their presence. I pick up stuff like lipsticks, perfumes, lotions, nothing more than $10-15, whether they like it or not.
“The best way to save on these extra expenses is to buy stuff in bulk when its on sale,” quipped Ms Kakkar who claims to be a ‘smart shopper.’
