Festival greetings in India: what to say, and when

India celebrates something almost every week, and each festival has its own customary words. Using the right greeting, on the right day, for the right person is a small courtesy that people notice. This page lists the greetings for the festivals covered on this site, and explains how to wish someone of another faith or region with confidence.

Festival greetings at a glance

Many festivals follow the lunar calendar, so their dates move from year to year, and Eid depends on the sighting of the moon. This page gives only the season. For the exact date in any year, check a calendar, your local newspaper or the announcement of the place of worship concerned.

Wishing someone of another faith

You do not need to share a belief to share a neighbour's happiness. Three simple rules cover almost every case:

1. Use the plain greeting. "Eid Mubarak", "Merry Christmas", "Happy Diwali" and "Gurpurab diyan vadhaiyan" are complete and correct. You do not need to add religious phrases, and it is better not to use one you are unsure of.
2. Wish for the person, not about the religion. "Wishing you and your family a joyful day" is always right.
3. Accept hospitality. If you are invited for sevaiyan, langar, plum cake or Diwali sweets, go. Turning up is the warmest greeting of all.

Happy, or something quieter?

Not every observance is a celebration. Some days are for remembrance, fasting or mourning, and "Happy" is the wrong word for them. Martyrdom days of the Sikh Gurus, Muharram, and Good Friday are examples. On such days, say nothing or send a line of respect, such as "Thinking of you on this day". If you are not sure which kind of day it is, ask a friend from that community, or wait and follow what they say.

The same festival, different names

• The mid-January harvest festival is Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Uttarayan, Magh Bihu or Maghi, depending on the state.
• The spring new year is Baisakhi in Punjab, Poila Boishakh in Bengal, Puthandu in Tamil Nadu, Vishu in Kerala, Ugadi in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra.
• The nine nights of autumn are Navratri in the north and west and Durga Puja in the east.
• The brother and sister day after Diwali is Bhai Dooj, Bhau Beej, Bhai Phonta or Tikka.

Use the name your friend uses. It shows that you know something about their home.

Greetings in Hindi and Punjabi

• Hindi: "... की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएँ" (heartfelt good wishes for ...) and "... मुबारक" both work for most festivals. "बधाई" is for congratulations.
• Punjabi: "... ਦੀਆਂ ਲੱਖ ਲੱਖ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ" (a hundred thousand congratulations for ...) is the customary form for Lohri, Baisakhi, Gurpurab, Diwali and family occasions.
• To elders, add a request for blessings: "आशीर्वाद दीजिए", "ਅਸੀਸਾਂ ਦਿਓ".

Every festival page on this site has wishes in English and Hindi, and most have Punjabi in Gurmukhi. All the Hindi wishes are together on the Hindi page and the Punjabi ones on the Punjabi page.

Timing

• Wish on the day, in the morning. A festival wish the evening before is fine. A week late is not.
• For Eid, wait until the day is confirmed.
• For Diwali and the New Year, avoid the midnight flood. A message a few hours earlier or the next morning is actually read.
• For friends abroad, go by their clock.

At work and in mixed groups

• Wish every community's festival, or none. Being left out is noticed.
• Keep group greetings short and free of religious argument.
• For customers, sign with your shop or firm, and do not attach an offer to the greeting.
• Do not expect people to reply to a group greeting, and do not send the same picture to the same group every year.

How to make any wish personal is explained in How to write a wish.