2025 Diwali Foreign Trade Greetings: Which Countries Should Send? What Should You Send? How Should You Send? (Includes English Greeting Templates and Channel Practices)

Diwali (also known as Deepawali, and considered the Indian Spring Festival), also known as the Festival of Lights, the Indian Festival of Lights, the Festival of Lights, or Deepavali, is India's most important festival. This year's core Diwali day falls on October 20th, with Diwali Week running from October 18th to 23rd. For such a grand festival, which countries should you send greetings to? How should you send them (through which channels and timing?), what are the highly engaging English greetings and complete templates (SMS/WhatsApp/Email/LinkedIn/Social Media Copywriting/Holiday Promotion CTAs), as well as implementation checklists and precautions? Save this article! Recommended Reading: 2025 Diwali Sales Guide! Indian Diwali Week Product Selection and Marketing Tips, a Must-Read for Export Sellers!

1. Which countries/customer groups should be blessed?

Recommended priority and reasons based on importance and actual returns:

1. India (Betfair) — Main target market with a large number of contacts (clients/suppliers/agents).

2. Neighboring and culturally similar countries (must be/high priority) : Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar - These countries are culturally/religiously related to Diwali, and it is widely celebrated or a local holiday in many countries.

3. Countries with a large Indian population that celebrate Diwali (high priority) : Mauritius, Fiji, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa (many of which are national holidays or important festivals).

4. Western countries with a large Indian customer base or market potential (medium to high priority) : UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand – While Diwali isn’t necessarily a national holiday here, Indian communities are active, B2C/B2B customers are enthusiastic about the holiday, and brand engagement is highly valued.

5. Middle Eastern Gulf States (medium priority) : UAE, Saudi Arabia (partial), Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait – Large numbers of expatriate Indian/South Asian workers and businesspeople, with festive events planned. Recent reports of events in the UAE/Abu Dhabi indicate a high level of interest in Diwali.

6. East Africa and other expatriates (low to medium priority) : Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda — If you have clients or agents in these countries, it’s worth sending a greeting.

Summary: If you only have a small amount of time each day, prioritize sending to: India → India surrounding areas (Nepal/Sri Lanka/Singapore and Malaysia) → Mauritius/Fiji/Guyana/Trinidad/Suriname → UK, US, Canada, Australia/Gulf customers .

2. How to send - provide strategies according to customer types

A. Channel Selection (B2B vs. B2C / Large vs. Small Customers)

• Major customers (B2B, long-term cooperation/decision makers) :

• Channel: LinkedIn private message/personalized email/follow-up phone call + e-card .

• Style: Formal, personalized, and includes business concerns (e.g., "Happy holidays to you and the team, and a reminder of holiday logistics/delivery schedule changes").

• Small and medium-sized customers (B2B or distribution/agent) :

• Channel: WhatsApp (personalized short message or voice blessing) / Email / WeChat (for Chinese agents) .

• Style: Heartwarming but concise, with the possibility of attaching a small promotion or order reminder (short-term promotion deadline).

• B2C/retail end customers :

• Channels: Email marketing, SMS, WhatsApp Broadcast, Facebook/Instagram ads, and festive landing pages .

• Style: Emotional, with pictures/short videos, and promotional CTAs (limited-time discounts/holiday gift packages).

• Social Media/Brand Communications :

• Channels: Company LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), YouTube Shorts, TikTok .

• Style: Visual (lighting, holiday greeting cards, short blessing videos), mixed Chinese, English/local language copy to increase reach.

• Quick Reminder/Marketing Countdown :

• Channel: SMS/WhatsApp (high open rate) — Used for promotion deadline reminders or last-minute order reminders before a holiday.

B. When to Send (Practical Suggestions)

• Best holiday window : 2-5 days before the holiday (early reach), and send another brief blessing on the holiday (around October 20); if there are post-holiday promotions or thanks, they can be sent 1-3 days after the holiday.

• Time : 9:00–11:30 AM or 2:00–5:00 PM local time in the target country (during business hours). Avoid late nights/early mornings.

• Frequency : For the same recipient, one personalized message before the holiday and one brief greeting on the holiday itself are sufficient. For B2C customers, two messages before the holiday and one during the holiday (no more than three times total) are sufficient to avoid harassment.

3. Suggestions on the content and style of blessings (culturally sensitive points)

Respect diversity : Although Diwali is a major festival in India, different religious groups (Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, and some Buddhist groups) may have different customs. It's safer to use universal greetings ("Light," "Prosperity," "Happiness," "Prosperous New Year" / "Festival of Lights").

Avoid religious doctrinal disputes : Unless you are very familiar with your customers' religious beliefs, avoid overly theological language and maintain the dual value of "holiday greetings + business care".

Language : English is the main language; if you know some Hindi/Tamil short sentences (such as "Shubh Diwali" / "Happy Deepavali"), you can add one for familiar Indian customers, but do not replace the English main text.

Signature and CTA : B2B emails with specific business information at the end (such as "If you need support during the holidays, please call xxx directly") will appear more considerate and trustworthy.

4. Examples of highly attractive English greetings (classified by channel)

A. Email — Formal (key customers/decision makers)

Subject (Example )

• “Warm Diwali Wishes from [Your Company] — Wishing You Lights & Prosperity”

• “Wishing You a Bright & Prosperous Diwali — From [Your Name / Company]”

Body

Dear [Mr./Ms. LastName],

Warm wishes to you and your family on the occasion of Diwali . May the Festival of Lights bring you health, joy and continued success.

We truly appreciate your partnership and look forward to supporting your business in the year ahead. If you have logistics or order queries during the holiday week (Oct 18–23), please contact [Name, phone, email].

Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Title] | [Company]
[Direct phone] | [Company website]

B. Email — Easy/Promotional (B2C or Small Customers)

Subject

• “Light Up Your Diwali — Special Offers Inside 🎆”

• “Diwali Sale — Limited-Time Deals for the Festival of Lights”

Body

Happy Diwali! ✨
To celebrate the Festival of Lights, we're offering [X% off / free shipping / Diwali bundle] from Oct 18–23. Use code DIWALI25 at checkout.
Shop now → [landing page link]
Warm wishes,
[Brand]

C. WhatsApp/SMS (short messages, high open rates)

• “Wishing you a joyful Diwali filled with light and prosperity. — [Your Name] from [Company]. For urgent help during Oct 18–23, call: +XX-XXXX.”

• SMS promotion example: “Diwali Offer: 20% off till Oct 23. Use DIWALI20. Shop: [short link] — [Brand]”

D. LinkedIn private messaging (B2B, network maintenance)

Hi [FirstName],
Wishing you and your team a very happy Diwali — may the festival bring light and success to your business. If there's anything we can support with during the holiday, please let me know.
Best, [Your Name] | [Company]

E. Social Media Copywriting (Company Account)

• “Wishing all our customers and partners a very Happy Diwali! May the Festival of Lights bring joy, prosperity and new opportunities. #Diwali2025   #FestivalOfLights”

• Visual: Company logo + warm holiday image / 10-15 second greeting video (one sentence from the CEO or team member is enough)

F. Voice/Video Blessing (VIP customers, differentiated)

• Record a heartwarming 20-30 second video of your company manager or yourself congratulating the customer and saying, "We're here if you need us over the holiday — call xxx." This video can convey more warmth than just words.

5. English blessing template - multiple scenarios

Template 1: Key Customer/Formal (Email)

Subject: Warm Diwali Wishes from [Company]

Body:

Dear [Mr./Ms. LastName],

On behalf of everyone at [Company] , I wish you and your family a very Happy Diwali . May this Festival of Lights bring you health, happiness and continued prosperity.

We value our partnership with you and remain available should you need any support during the holiday (Oct 18–23). For urgent matters, please contact [Contact Name, Phone, Email].

Warm regards,
[Your Name]
[Title] | [Company]
[phone] | [website]

Template 2: Small and Medium Customers/WhatsApp Short Message

Hi [FirstName], wishing you a joyful Diwali filled with light and prosperity. — [Your Name], [Company]. Urgent? Call +[phone].

Template 3: Promotional Email (B2C)

Subject: Light Up Your Diwali — Save 20% with DIWALI20

Body:

Happy Diwali! Celebrate with special savings — enjoy 20% off storewide from Oct 18–23. Use code DIWALI20 at checkout.
[Button: Shop Now → landing page]
Offer ends Oct 23. Warm wishes, [Brand]

Template 4: LinkedIn (Leads/Contacts)

Hi [FirstName], wishing you and your loved ones a very Happy Diwali. May the festival bring you bright opportunities ahead. If you're free after the holiday, I'd love to reconnect about [topic].
Best, [Your Name]

Template 5: Telephone Call Script (Short Call Before Holidays)

“Hello [Name], this is [Your Name] from [Company]. I know Diwali is coming up — I just wanted to wish you a happy Diwali and confirm if you need any shipments or support during Oct 18–23. We'll ensure continuity.”

6. Holiday Marketing/Business Opportunities

• Holiday-exclusive discounts/packages (limited time, to create a sense of urgency) – for example, extra discounts for the 48 hours before a holiday.

• Create a Diwali-themed landing page (visual + limited-time CTA) and run targeted ads on Facebook/Instagram/Google Display (targeting Indian regions and cities).

• Corporate gift/sample activities : Send customized holiday gift boxes (handmade desserts/small ornaments/company customized lights/blessing cards) to major customers to deepen relationships.

• Logistics/delivery reminders + discounts : Before the holidays, we will launch "free shipping for early orders" or "priority delivery after the holidays" services.

• Content Marketing : Release a short video about corporate greetings on Diwali (CEO/team) to increase brand affinity.

VII. Cultural/Legal and Compliance Considerations

Holidays affect delivery and contact : Many countries have holidays around Diwali (some Indian states have multiple days off). Be sure to confirm the holiday arrangements of key customers/suppliers in advance and indicate the contact's availability in your greetings.

Personalization is more effective than mass messaging : For major and long-term customers, sending personalized messages (including the customer name and a sentence related to the company/project) will have a better open rate and maintain better relationships.

Don’t force religious content : the safest approach is to combine “blessings + business care/CTA”.

Language/Spelling Note : Diwali, Deepavali, Deepawali are all acceptable (different regions use different words), but do not misspell the customer's name.

8. Blessings Sending Schedule

• T-minus 7 days (October 11) : Organize the customer list, mark priorities and preferred languages/channels.

• T-minus 4 days (October 14) : Prepare templates (Email/WhatsApp/SMS/LinkedIn), design social media images and landing pages.

• T-minus 2 days (October 16) : Start sending the first round (personalized emails/LinkedIn private messages to key customers) and launch B2C email/social media warm-up.

• 1 day before the festival (October 19) : WhatsApp/SMS final round of reminders (short messages).

• On the feast day (Sunday, October 20) : Send a short blessing (local time that morning).

• 1–3 days after the holiday (October 21–23) : Post-holiday thanks/follow-up and promotional extension (if any).

9. Highly attractive English greeting phrases (can be used as SMS / social media headlines / email subjects)

• “Wishing you a Diwali filled with light, love and prosperity.”

• “May the Festival of Lights brighten your life and business.”

• “Happy Diwali — prosperity and success to you and your team.”

• “Shubh Diwali — Warm wishes from all of us at [Company].”

• “Light, joy, and new opportunities — Happy Diwali!”

10. 5 Ready-to-use Greeting Templates (SMS/WhatsApp/LinkedIn Subject)

1. SMS (short):
“Happy Diwali! Wishing you joy and prosperity — from [Company]. For urgent support during Oct 18–23 call +[phone].”

2. WhatsApp (Friendly):

“Hi [FirstName] — wishing you and your family a very Happy Diwali! Hope the festival brings you much joy. — [Your Name], [Company].”

3. LinkedIn (Business):

"Happy Diwali, [FirstName]. Wishing you a bright and prosperous festival. Let's catch up after the holidays."

4. Email subject (promotion):

“Celebrate Diwali — Exclusive Festival Deals Inside (Oct 18–23)”

5. Social Media Title (Instagram/Fb):

“Light Up Your Diwali — Special Festival Offers & Warm Wishes from [Brand]”

11. A 10-step implementation checklist for beginners

1. In your CRM, filter out customers tagged with "Indian/Indian Customers/Indonesian/Singapore/Mauritian/Gulf/UK, US, Canada, Australia." We recommend AB Customer CRM (automatic reminders, free to use).

2. Mark each customer’s preferred channel (Email/WhatsApp/LinkedIn/SMS).

3. Prepare three sets of templates: Formal, Casual, and Promotional.

4. Design a standard holiday greeting image (company logo + "Happy Diwali").

5. Plan your delivery schedule and set reminders in your calendar.

6. Record a 20–30 second video greeting for VIP customers (or have your supervisor record it).

7. Check the risks of all important orders and delivery dates being affected by Diwali and indicate emergency contact information in the greeting email.

8. B2C: Launch a Diwali promotion page and set up tracking (UTM, discount codes).

9. Send the first wave before the holiday (personalized emails or LinkedIn to VIPs).

10. Send a brief greeting on the holiday and do a business follow-up (phone or email) after the holiday.

12. English template example

Email — VIP

Subject: Warm Diwali Wishes from [Company]

Body:

Dear [Mr./Ms. LastName],

Warmest Diwali wishes to you and your family. May this Festival of Lights bring you health and prosperity. We appreciate your partnership and are ready to support you during the holidays — for urgent matters please contact [Name] at [phone/email].

Sincerely,
[Your Name], [Title], [Company]

WhatsApp (short)

Hi [FirstName], wishing you a joyful Diwali filled with light and prosperity. — [Your Name], [Company]. Urgent? Call +[phone].

SMS (promo)

Diwali Special: 20% off with code DIWALI20. Valid Oct 18–23. Shop: [short link] — [Brand]

LinkedIn message

Hi [FirstName], wishing you and your team a very Happy Diwali. May the festival bring bright opportunities to your business. Best, [Your Name]

13. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Should I translate Diwali wishes into Hindi or Tamil?

A: If you know the other person’s native language or preference, short phrases (such as “Shubh Diwali”) can be used as embellishments; but it is safest to use English as the main language.

Q: Will sending blessings be considered a disturbance?

A: As long as it's short, sincere, and doesn't force a sales pitch (or put the promotion in a separate email), it usually improves customer satisfaction. Just personalize it for VIPs.

Q: Should B2B do promotions?

Answer: B2B is more suitable for information such as "service guarantee/holiday support/delivery discount" rather than retail discounts.

Conclusion

Now open your CRM and filter out customers with the tags "Indian/India/Singapore/Mauritius/Gulf/UK, US, Canada and Australia".

Copy the "Email — VIP" template above , replace the customer's name and your contact number, and send it to your 5 most important customers. Take action now.