Diwali is the biggest shopping season of the year in India. Customers are ready to buy sweets, clothes, gifts, gadgets, gold and home décor – and every brand is trying to reach them at the same time. A well-timed Diwali SMS or WhatsApp message lands directly on the customer's phone, gets read within minutes and can bring sales the same day. This guide gives you 30 ready-to-use Diwali messages, the right time to send them, and the DLT rules you must follow so your festive campaign is delivered without any problem.
Why SMS and WhatsApp work so well in the festive season
- Instant reach – an SMS is delivered in seconds and almost every SMS is opened, even on basic phones and in small towns.
- Rich offers on WhatsApp and RCS – show a product photo, a coupon code and a "Shop now" or "Call us" button in one message.
- Low cost per customer – one festive campaign to lakhs of customers costs far less than newspaper, radio or hoarding ads.
- Measurable – delivery reports, link clicks and replies show you exactly which message worked.
Plan your Diwali campaign in 4 steps
- Get your DLT templates approved early. Promotional SMS in India can only be sent with a registered header and an approved content template. Approvals can take time during the festive rush, so submit your Diwali templates at least a few days before you plan to send.
- Clean and segment your list. Separate regular buyers, new customers and inactive customers. A "We miss you – 20% OFF this Diwali" message works very differently from a "Thank you for shopping with us" message.
- Pick the channel per message. Use SMS for reach, WhatsApp for offers with images and buttons (only to customers who have opted in), and RCS for app-like product carousels on Android phones.
- Schedule at the right time. Promotional SMS can only be delivered between 9 AM and 9 PM. Late morning (11 AM – 1 PM) and evening (6 PM – 8:30 PM) usually give the best response.
When to send: a simple festive calendar
| When | Message type | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| 7–10 days before Diwali | Early-bird offer, pre-booking | Catch planned buyers first |
| Dhanteras | Gold, silver, electronics, utensils offers | Big-ticket purchases |
| 2–3 days before | Last-minute gifts, fast delivery, store timings | Urgency |
| Diwali day | Greetings only (no hard selling) | Goodwill and brand recall |
| After Diwali / Bhai Dooj | Thank-you, leftover-stock sale, feedback | Repeat purchase |
30 ready Diwali messages you can use
Replace the words in capital letters with your own details. For SMS, the parts that change (name, code, link, date) must be marked as variables in your DLT template.
Greetings (send to all customers)
- May this Diwali light up your home with joy, health and prosperity. Happy Diwali from all of us at BRAND!
- Wishing you and your family a sparkling Diwali and a bright New Year ahead. – Team BRAND
- Diyas, sweets and smiles – may your Diwali be full of all three. Happy Deepavali! – BRAND
- Thank you for being part of the BRAND family this year. Have a safe and happy Diwali!
- Shubh Deepavali! May Goddess Lakshmi bless you with success and happiness. – BRAND
Offers and sales (retail, e-commerce)
- Diwali Dhamaka Sale is LIVE! Flat 30% OFF on everything. Use code DIWALI30. Shop now: LINK – BRAND
- Light up your home this Diwali! Decor lights from Rs 199. Free delivery above Rs 999. Order: LINK – BRAND
- Festive offer: Buy 2, get 1 FREE on all ethnic wear. Valid till DATE. Visit our store or shop at LINK – BRAND
- Diwali gifting made easy! Gift boxes from Rs 499 with free gift wrap. Order today: LINK – BRAND
- Only 2 days left! Extra 10% OFF on prepaid orders this Diwali. Code: EXTRA10. LINK – BRAND
- Last-minute gift? Order before 6 PM for same-day delivery in CITY. LINK – BRAND
- Your special Diwali coupon: Rs 250 OFF on orders above Rs 1,499. Code NAME250. Valid till DATE. – BRAND
Sweets, restaurants and bakeries
- Fresh Diwali sweets are here! Kaju katli, soan papdi and dry-fruit boxes. Pre-book now: PHONE – SHOP NAME
- Corporate Diwali gift boxes – bulk orders with custom branding. Call PHONE for a quote. – SHOP NAME
- Celebrate Diwali with family! 20% OFF on family dinner this weekend. Book a table: PHONE – RESTAURANT
Jewellery, electronics and automobiles
- Dhanteras special: 0% making charges on gold jewellery. Visit STORE NAME today. – BRAND
- Book your Diwali gold coin today and pick it up on Dhanteras. Call PHONE – BRAND
- Diwali offer on smartphones and TVs: no-cost EMI + exchange bonus up to Rs 5,000. Visit STORE. – BRAND
- Bring home your new car this Diwali! Special festive benefits for a limited time. Test drive: PHONE – DEALER
- Festive service camp: free 20-point check-up for your vehicle till DATE. Book: PHONE – SERVICE CENTRE
Services, schools, clinics and real estate
- Diwali offer on home cleaning! Full home deep-clean at Rs 2,499. Limited slots. Book: PHONE – BRAND
- Our clinic will remain closed on DATE for Diwali. For emergencies, call PHONE. Happy Diwali! – CLINIC
- Dear Parent, school will remain closed from DATE to DATE for Diwali holidays. Happy Diwali! – SCHOOL
- Festive bonanza! Book your flat this Diwali and get free modular kitchen. Site visit: PHONE – BUILDER
- Diwali special: flat 25% OFF on gym membership. Offer valid till DATE. Join today: PHONE – GYM
Re-engagement, reminders and thank-you
- We miss you, NAME! Come back this Diwali and get 20% OFF on your next order. Code: BACK20. LINK – BRAND
- Items in your cart are waiting! Complete your order today and get free delivery. LINK – BRAND
- Reminder: our Diwali sale ends tonight at 11:59 PM. Don't miss it! LINK – BRAND
- Thank you for shopping with us this Diwali, NAME! Rate your experience: LINK – BRAND
- Post-Diwali clearance: up to 50% OFF on festive stock. Few days only. LINK – BRAND
DLT and TRAI rules to remember
- Header and template: every commercial SMS must use your registered sender ID (header) and an approved DLT template. A message that does not match its template is blocked by the operator.
- Variables: mark the changing parts (name, amount, code, link, date) as
{#var#}in the template. The fixed text must be sent exactly as approved. - Timing: promotional SMS are delivered only between 9 AM and 9 PM and do not reach customers who have blocked promotional messages (DND).
- Use trusted links: use your own domain or a whitelisted short link. Unknown short links are a common reason for festive messages being filtered.
- WhatsApp consent: send WhatsApp marketing messages only to customers who have opted in, using templates approved by Meta.
Tips for better results
- Keep the offer in the first line – many customers read only the preview.
- Add one clear action: "Shop now", "Call", "Visit store" or "Reply YES".
- Personalise with the customer's name and city where you can.
- Do not send more than 2–3 promotional messages per customer during the festive week.
- Send a Hindi or regional-language version for customers outside the metros – Unicode SMS is fully supported.
- Check the delivery and click report after the first batch, and change the message before the next batch if needed.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send Diwali greetings without a DLT template?
No. Every business SMS in India – even a simple greeting – must be sent with a registered header and an approved DLT template.
Which is better for Diwali offers: SMS or WhatsApp?
Use both. SMS reaches every customer, while WhatsApp and RCS let you show product images and buttons to customers who use those apps. Many businesses send an SMS to everyone and a rich WhatsApp offer to opted-in customers.
How early should I prepare my campaign?
Ideally one to two weeks before Diwali, so that your templates are approved, your list is cleaned and your first offer reaches customers before the competition.
Ready to send your Diwali campaign? Talk to our team or log in to your DigitalSMS4U panel to schedule your festive SMS, WhatsApp and RCS messages in minutes. Happy Diwali!
