Diwali wishes for a friend abroad: greetings and an example letter
Diwali falls on November 8, 2026. Greetings like Happy Diwali and Shubh Deepavali, what to ask, what to avoid, an example letter and the Lettie Diwali stamp.
Diwali falls on November 8, 2026. It's a festival of lights celebrated in India and also in Nepal, Singapore, Malaysia and elsewhere. "Happy Diwali!" works everywhere, and "Shubh Deepavali" (शुभ दीपावली) in Hindi is a warm touch. On Lettie, sending one letter between Nov 3, 12:00 UTC and Nov 8, 12:00 UTC earns a free Diwali stamp.
Diwali in brief
- A festival of lights — small clay lamps (diyas) and string lights inside and outside the home, and colourful patterns (rangoli) on the floor by the door.
- Several days long — the festival runs over a few days around the main day.
- Who celebrates — mainly Hindus, and also Sikhs and Jains. Not everyone in India celebrates it.
- The name — in Tamil-speaking regions it's called Deepavali.
Greetings
| Greeting | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| Happy Diwali! | — | Works everywhere |
| Shubh Deepavali (शुभ दीपावली) | Auspicious Diwali | In Hindi |
| Wishing you and your family a bright Diwali | — | A letter sign-off |
| May the lights bring you joy | — | A little more heartfelt |
Good things to ask
- "Do you celebrate Diwali?" — ask before assuming.
- How they decorate — diyas, rangoli, lights.
- Festival sweets — sweets (mithai) are shared at Diwali.
- Family plans — who visits, where they go.
- Fireworks — every town is different, and some cities restrict them because of air pollution.
Example letter
Happy Diwali! I imagine your street is full of little lights right now. We have a lantern day in Korea too — in spring, temples and streets fill with lotus lanterns for Buddha's Birthday. How do you decorate your home for Diwali? What's your favourite sweet this time of year? Shubh Deepavali!
A few cautions
- Don't assume someone's religion. Ask "Do you celebrate?" rather than "You must be celebrating".
- Keep food talk away from meat and alcohol. Many families eat vegetarian during the festival.
- Send a day early to land on the 8th. A letter from Korea to India usually takes 6–12 hours.
The Lettie Diwali stamp shows clay oil lamps on a rangoli. Other holidays are in the 2026–2027 holiday stamp calendar.
Frequently asked questions
- When is Diwali in 2026?
- The main day of Diwali in 2026 is November 8. The festival runs over several days around it.
- How do you wish someone a happy Diwali?
- "Happy Diwali!" works everywhere. In Hindi, "Shubh Deepavali" (शुभ दीपावली); in Tamil-speaking regions the festival is called Deepavali.
- Does everyone in India celebrate Diwali?
- No. It is celebrated mainly by Hindus, and also by Sikhs and Jains, but many people don’t. Ask first: “Do you celebrate Diwali?”