Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November. Lakshmi Puja is on the same day, and the festival runs across five days from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj.
That Sunday date changes a few practical things this year, particularly for corporate gifting, because the last useful working day before the festival is Friday 6 November. This guide gives you the five day calendar, what is gifted on which day, and a working timeline so nothing reaches late.
Diwali 2026 five day calendar
| Day | Date | What it is | What is usually gifted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dhanteras | Thursday, 5 November | Buying day, considered auspicious for purchases | Silver, utensils, dry fruits, sweets |
| Naraka Chaturdashi | Friday, 6 November | Chhoti Diwali | Corporate gifts handed over at offices |
| Diwali, Lakshmi Puja | Sunday, 8 November | The main day | Family gifting, hampers, sweets |
| Govardhan Puja | Monday, 9 November | Annakut | Community and neighbour gifting |
| Bhai Dooj | Tuesday, 10 November | Brother and sister day | Personal gifts between siblings |
Dates follow the Hindu lunar calendar and can shift by a day in some regions. Confirm locally for puja timings, but for gifting and dispatch planning this calendar is what to work with.
What the Sunday date means for companies
Because 8 November is a Sunday, offices will be shut on the main day. That pulls the entire corporate gifting window forward.
Last office working day is Friday 6 November. Anything meant to be handed over in person needs to reach the office by Thursday 5 November at the latest, so the admin team has a day to distribute it.
Home deliveries for remote staff should land between 3 and 6 November. After that, courier networks are congested and delivery attempts run into a weekend.
Client gifts are best delivered between 30 October and 5 November. Earlier and they get put in a cupboard before the festive mood starts. Later and they sit with a security desk over the weekend.
Gifting timeline that actually works
Work backwards from 5 November, not from 8 November. This is the schedule we use with corporate clients.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| By 10 October | Decide budget per head and headcount, request samples if needed |
| By 17 October | Confirm the hamper, send logo artwork, place the order |
| By 24 October | Approve the branding proof, share the final address list and city split |
| 27 October to 1 November | Production, packing and dispatch |
| 3 to 5 November | Delivery at offices and homes |
| 6 November | Handover on the last working day, follow up on missed deliveries |
Ready hampers without branding can move in about a week, so a late October order is still possible. Customised orders with printed boxes need three to four weeks, and packaging stock genuinely runs out in the final fortnight.
What to gift, by who is receiving it
Employees. One standard hamper for the whole company, with a second higher tier only for the leadership group. Between Rs 550 and Rs 1,200 per head covers most Indian companies. Details are in our guide to Diwali gifts for employees.
Clients and partners. Premium packaging, light branding, and a note card signed by a named person. Rs 650 to Rs 1,500 depending on the relationship. See Diwali gifts for clients.
Family, parents and in-laws. Presentation matters more than variety count here, and dry fruits work because they get used through winter rather than finished in two days.
Neighbours and help. A smaller box in good packaging. A three jar rigid box around Rs 550 looks considered without being excessive.
Why dry fruits over sweets for Diwali gifting
Sweets are traditional, and there is nothing wrong with them. The practical problem is volume. Any given household receives several mithai boxes in the same week, most of which need to be eaten within three or four days, and a good share of them are quietly passed on.
Dry fruits solve that. They last for weeks, they suit people avoiding sugar, they work for older recipients and for anyone fasting, and they get used through the winter rather than in one sitting. For a mixed office with different dietary habits, they are the one option that does not exclude anyone.
Hampers for Diwali 2026
| Hamper | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sumewam Signature Trio | Rs 550 | Large teams, neighbours, volume gifting |
| Sumewam Luxury Trio Delight | Rs 615 | A richer version of the trio |
| Shahi Mewa Box | Rs 650 | Traditional festive look, broad client list |
| House of Light Diwali Hamper | Rs 899 | The most picked company wide hamper |
| Shubh Labh Jhola Diwali Hamper | Rs 1,150 | Distinctive format for clients |
| Rajwada Tray Diwali Hamper | Rs 1,200 | Managers and senior staff |
| The Midnight Bloom | Rs 1,200 | Presentation led gifting |
| The Botanica Box | Rs 1,450 | Top accounts and leadership |
The full range with contents and photographs is on the gift hampers page.
Three things to check before you order
Ask for the packing date. Most gifting vendors buy dry fruits months ahead and pack from that stock when an order comes in. We pack and date every hamper on the day it ships, and Sumewam is ISO certified, so quality follows a documented process rather than a seasonal arrangement.
Confirm the GST invoice. Corporate gifting is a business expense. Share your company GSTIN, registered name and billing address at confirmation, not after dispatch.
Order spares. Two to five percent above headcount. New joiners appear in the last week and couriers occasionally lose a box.
Plan your Diwali 2026 gifting
Tell us your headcount or client count, your approximate budget per gift, and the cities involved. We send curated options with pricing, usually within a few hours on a working day. Corporate orders start at 10 hampers, with better per unit pricing at 50, 100 and 500 boxes.
Start on the corporate gifting page, or see the ordering process in bulk Diwali gifts for companies.
FAQs
When is Diwali in 2026?
Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November, with Lakshmi Puja on the same day. The five day festival runs from Dhanteras on 5 November to Bhai Dooj on 10 November.
What is the Diwali 2026 date for Dhanteras?
Dhanteras is on Thursday, 5 November 2026. It is considered auspicious for purchases, which is why a large share of gift buying happens on that day.
When should companies hand over Diwali gifts in 2026?
Because 8 November is a Sunday, the last office working day is Friday 6 November. Gifts should reach offices by Thursday 5 November so the admin team has a day to distribute them.
How early should we order Diwali corporate gifts?
Three to four weeks ahead for customised orders with logo printing, which means confirming by around 17 October. Ready hampers without branding can move in about a week, though the final fortnight is congested.
Are dry fruits a good Diwali gift?
Yes. They last for weeks rather than days, suit people avoiding sugar, work for every age group and dietary habit, and get used through winter. Households receive several sweet boxes in the same week, so a dry fruit hamper stands out.
What is a good Diwali gift budget per person?
Most Indian companies spend Rs 550 to Rs 1,200 per employee and Rs 650 to Rs 1,500 per client, with a higher tier for leadership and key accounts.
Can we get Diwali hampers delivered across India?
Yes. Share the city wise split at confirmation and each location is dispatched separately with its own tracking. Individual home delivery for remote staff is also available with a name, full address and phone number list.
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