Diwali invitation messages for WhatsApp, with six examples

A Diwali invitation on WhatsApp says what the gathering is, when and where it is, what to bring or wear, and asks guests to reply by a set date. Diwali falls on Sunday 8 November in 2026, so most gatherings land on the weekend of 7 and 8 November or the weekends either side. Below are six messages you can copy and adapt.

Last updated: 30 September 2026

What to include

Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, by Sikhs, who mark Bandi Chhor Divas on the same day, and by Jains. In 2026 the main night of Lakshmi Puja is Sunday 8 November (source). Timings for the puja vary by city, so check your family’s or temple’s calendar if the invitation names one.

The gathering. A puja, a dinner, a party, sweets and fireworks. Guests plan differently for each.
Date and start time.Written in full: “Saturday 7 November, 6:30 pm”. If the puja starts at a set time, say so, so guests arrive before it.
Where. The full address, and parking if it is tight.
Bring or wear.Potluck dish, sweets, “festive wear welcome”. Leave it out if there is nothing to ask.
The RSVP.A direct question and a date: “Please let us know by Sunday 1 November if you can come”. Diwali food is planned by the head.
A greeting.“Happy Diwali”, “Shubh Deepavali”, or “Wishing you and your family a bright Diwali”.

Six Diwali invitation messages

1. Family Diwali dinner

Hi Meena Auntie 🪔 We’re hosting Diwali dinner at our place on Sunday 8 November from 6 pm, and it wouldn’t be the same without you all. Could you let us know by Sunday 1 November if you can come, and how many of you? Happy Diwali! — Anjali & Rohit

2. Lakshmi Puja and dinner at home

Dear Sharma family, please join us for Lakshmi Puja at our home on Sunday 8 November. Puja begins at 6:30 pm, followed by dinner. 42 Maple Crescent, Brampton. Kindly reply by Monday 2 November so we can plan the prasad and dinner. Shubh Deepavali! — The Patels

3. Diwali party with friends

Diwali party at ours! ✨ Saturday 14 November, 7 pm till late. Sparklers, food and far too many sweets. It’s a potluck, so bring a dish if you can. Festive wear welcome. Let me know by Tuesday 10th if you’re in!

4. Office Diwali lunch

Hi team, we’re marking Diwali with a lunch on Friday 6 November at 12:30 in the main boardroom. Everyone is welcome, whether or not you celebrate. Please reply by Monday 2 November with any dietary requirements (vegetarian, vegan, Jain, allergies, or none) so we can order for everyone.

5. Student club Diwali night

Hey! Our Diwali Night is on Friday 13 November, 6–10 pm in the Student Centre Great Hall. Dinner, dance performances and henna. Free for members. Food is limited, so please RSVP by Saturday 7 November and tell us if you need a vegetarian or vegan meal.

6. Community Diwali dinner

Namaste, the Cultural Association warmly invites you and your family to our Diwali dinner on Saturday 7 November at 6 pm, at the community centre, 120 King Street. There will be a short program, dinner and diyas for the children. Seats are limited: please confirm by Saturday 31 October with the number in your family.

Every example ends with a date. Diwali weekends are busy, and many guests are invited to more than one gathering, so an RSVP date is what turns “we’ll try” into an answer. For more wording for the reply request, see how to politely ask guests to RSVP.

When to send, and when to follow up

Send two to three weeks ahead. For the weekend of 7 and 8 November, that means by mid-October. Community events with limited seats can go out earlier.
Set the RSVP date about a week before. Enough time to order food and sweets, and to chase anyone who has not answered.
Remind once. Two or three days before the RSVP date, only to the guests who have not replied.

Asking about food

Diwali gatherings are built around food, and guests’ needs vary. Ask as part of the RSVP, with a short list and a “none” option, so you can tell no requirements apart from no answer.

Any dietary requirements? Vegetarian, vegan, Jain (no root vegetables), allergies, or none.

Send it to each guest, not the group

Posting one invitation in the family or friends group feels quicker, but the replies arrive mixed into the conversation, and the people who never open the group never see it. Sending each guest their own message gets you one clear answer per household. Doing that by hand for a long list is where the time goes, which is what collecting RSVPs over WhatsApp covers in more detail.

How this works in Avently

Step 01
Each guest gets their own invitation
Avently sends every guest a WhatsApp message addressed to them by name, with your event name and date, and Yes and No buttons. Add your own Diwali card as the invitation image.
Step 02
The yeses answer your food questions
Guests who say yes are asked how many are coming and their dietary needs, with options to tap. Guests who say no are thanked and not asked anything else.
Step 03
You see the headcount as it comes in
Every answer lands in your guest list as it arrives, and you can remind the guests who have not replied with one tap.

Common questions

When is Diwali in 2026?

Diwali, the night of Lakshmi Puja, falls on Sunday 8 November 2026. The festival runs over five days around it, from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj, so many families and groups hold their gatherings on the weekend of 7 and 8 November or the weekends either side.

What should a Diwali invitation say?

What the gathering is (a puja, a dinner, a party), the date and start time, the address, whether guests should bring anything, a note on dress if you have a preference, and a clear request to reply by a set date. Close with a greeting such as “Happy Diwali” or “Shubh Deepavali”.

How far in advance should I send Diwali invitations?

Two to three weeks ahead for a dinner or party, and earlier for a large community event. Diwali weekends fill up fast, because many guests are invited to several gatherings, so an early invitation with an RSVP date about a week before the event gives you time to plan the food.

Is it OK to send a Diwali invitation on WhatsApp?

Yes. For most family, friends and community gatherings, WhatsApp is where the invitation is expected. Send each guest their own message rather than posting in a group, so every reply comes back to you and nobody’s answer is lost in the chat.

How do I invite colleagues to an office Diwali celebration?

Keep it inclusive and practical: say what will happen (lunch, sweets, a short welcome), when and where, that everyone is welcome whether or not they celebrate, and ask for dietary needs so the food works for the whole team.

What should guests wear to a Diwali party?

Many guests wear festive or traditional Indian clothes, but it is the host’s call. If you have a preference, say so in the invitation, for example “Festive wear welcome”, so guests who are new to Diwali are not left guessing.

Avently sends your Diwali invitation to each guest on WhatsApp, collects the headcount and the food answers, and reminds only the guests who have not replied.

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