It's polite for guests to bring a small gift

Giving gifts when visiting a home is not required, but it is usually appreciated and is typically seen to be polite. It's usually a good idea to keep things like candy, flowers, or keepsakes in mind. A present for the kid is also a nice gesture if your host has kids.

But when you do give gifts, be careful. For instance, many Indian households do not keep alcohol in the house, despite the fact that it is customary in the West to bring a bottle of wine to dinner. A bottle of whiskey or wine should be OK if you observe that your host consumes alcohol and keeps it about the house.