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Diwali 2026: how to send wishes to friends and colleagues

A friend from university is flying home to Leicester for Diwali. A colleague in your Manchester office has mentioned sweets for the whole team. You don't celebrate yourself, but you would like to say something kind. What should you say, and when?

The short answer: a warm, sincere message is almost always welcome. A little background helps you get it right.

What Diwali is about

The name comes from the Sanskrit word "dipavali", meaning "row of lights". Families light small clay oil lamps called diyas. Many also create rangoli, patterns made on the floor with coloured powder or sand.

Diwali is celebrated over five days. It is a Hindu festival that other communities mark too, each with their own meaning. For Jains it recalls the spiritual awakening of Lord Mahavira. For Sikhs it honours the release of Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh Guru. Buddhists in India celebrate Diwali as well.

If you don't know which tradition your friend follows, it is fine to ask. Curiosity usually lands better than guessing.

When is Diwali in 2026?

The main day, with Lakshmi Puja, is Sunday 8 November 2026. The Hindu calendar site Drik Panchang gives this date for New Delhi. The Indian central government's holiday list for 2026 agrees. In some states, the custom is to celebrate a day earlier.

Because the date follows the Hindu calendar and depends on location, it can shift. Drik Panchang also lists 8 November for London. Communities elsewhere will probably celebrate on the same day, but check with the family if timing matters.

Greetings that work

  1. "Happy Diwali" is perfectly appropriate. It suits such a joyful festival.
  2. "Shubh Diwali" also means "Happy Diwali", in Hindi. It is a nice touch if your friend speaks Hindi.
  3. Add one line of your own. For example: "Wishing you and your family a bright and joyful Diwali."

Hindi is one of India's official languages, but not every family speaks it. If in doubt, "Happy Diwali" is the safe choice.

What people give

On the main day, people bring sweet treats and gifts to friends and family. Relatives and friends visit each other with presents and good wishes. So a box of Indian sweets is an obvious choice if you will see the person.

If they live far away, the contact matters most. In 2020 the Hindu American Foundation encouraged people to actually call friends and family at Diwali, not just text. It singled out those who might be lonely. A call or a voice message can mean as much as a box of sweets.

What to avoid: jokes about Bollywood or stereotypes about India. If you don't know the person's faith, leave out religious images such as deities.

When your message should arrive

India uses UTC+5:30, so it is not on a full hour. On 8 November the UK is on Greenwich Mean Time. That puts New Delhi five and a half hours ahead of London.

Say you want your wishes to arrive at 8 a.m. in Mumbai. In London that is 2:30 a.m. Midnight in India is 6:30 p.m. the evening before in London. From New York, 8 a.m. in Mumbai is 9:30 p.m. the night before, since New York is on standard time by then.

If the family lives in Sydney, Toronto or Dubai, their local clock is what counts. Our guide to birthday wishes across time zones explains how to work it out.

One option if you'll be asleep

With Tadawink you can schedule an animated gift with a card up to 30 days ahead. You pick the recipient's time zone, for example 8 a.m. in India. You can still change it until 15 minutes before, in case the family celebrates a day earlier. You can also add a voice message of your own.

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