Diwali & Bandi Chhor Divas Wishes in Punjabi (2026): What to Say and Why Sikhs Celebrate
Happy Diwali in Punjabi is 'Diwali diyan lakh lakh vadhaaiyan'; for Sikhs the same day is Bandi Chhor Divas. Both fall on Sunday 8 November 2026. Every greeting with Gurmukhi and pronunciation, how to reply, festival vocabulary, and the story behind the Sikh celebration.
"Happy Diwali" in Punjabi is Diwali diyan lakh lakh vadhaaiyan (ਦੀਵਾਲੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਲੱਖ ਲੱਖ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ — "a hundred thousand congratulations for Diwali") or simply Diwali mubarak (ਦੀਵਾਲੀ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ). For Sikhs the same day is Bandi Chhor Divas, the "Day of Liberation", so you'll also hear Bandi Chhor Divas diyan vadhaaiyan (ਬੰਦੀ ਛੋੜ ਦਿਵਸ ਦੀਆਂ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ). In 2026 both fall on Sunday 8 November. Here's what to say, how to reply, and the story behind the lights.
Diwali and Bandi Chhor Wishes in Punjabi
| Wish | Gurmukhi | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Diwali diyan lakh lakh vadhaaiyan | ਦੀਵਾਲੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਲੱਖ ਲੱਖ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ | Happy Diwali (the warmest, most common) |
| Diwali mubarak | ਦੀਵਾਲੀ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ | Happy Diwali (short) |
| Bandi Chhor Divas diyan vadhaaiyan | ਬੰਦੀ ਛੋੜ ਦਿਵਸ ਦੀਆਂ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ | Happy Bandi Chhor Divas (Sikh) |
| Tuhanu te tuhade parivaar nu Diwali diyan lakh lakh vadhaaiyan | ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਤੇ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਦੀਵਾਲੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਲੱਖ ਲੱਖ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ | Happy Diwali to you and your family |
| Eh Diwali tuhade ghar vich khushiyan te roshni liaave | ਇਹ ਦੀਵਾਲੀ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਘਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਖੁਸ਼ੀਆਂ ਤੇ ਰੌਸ਼ਨੀ ਲਿਆਵੇ | May this Diwali bring joy and light to your home |
| Diwali di raat tuhade jeevan nu jagmagaave | ਦੀਵਾਲੀ ਦੀ ਰਾਤ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਜੀਵਨ ਨੂੰ ਜਗਮਗਾਵੇ | May the Diwali night light up your life |
| Rabb tuhanu hamesha khush rakhe | ਰੱਬ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਖੁਸ਼ ਰੱਖੇ | May God keep you always happy |
To reply: Tuhanu vi (ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਵੀ, "to you too") or Tuhanu vi lakh lakh vadhaaiyan. The pattern [festival] diyan vadhaaiyan works for every celebration — see our guide to congratulations in Punjabi.
Why Sikhs Celebrate: The Story of Bandi Chhor Divas
Bandi Chhor Divas — "the day of the liberator of prisoners" — remembers the release of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind, from imprisonment in Gwalior Fort by the Mughal emperor Jahangir, in the early 1600s. The Guru refused to leave unless the 52 Hindu kings imprisoned with him were freed too. The emperor allowed only those who could hold on to the Guru's cloak to go — so, the story goes, the Guru had a cloak made with 52 tassels, and every king walked out holding one. When he reached Amritsar, the people lit the Harmandir Sahib (the Golden Temple) with lamps to welcome him — and the Golden Temple has glowed on this night ever since. The message is freedom, and freedom for others, not just yourself.
Punjabi Hindus celebrate Diwali on the same day for its own reasons — the return of Ram to Ayodhya and the worship of Lakshmi — so in Punjab and the diaspora the night is shared: lamps, sweets, fireworks and family on both sides of the street.
Festival Vocabulary
| Word | Gurmukhi | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Diya / Diva | ਦੀਵਾ | clay oil lamp |
| Mombatti | ਮੋਮਬੱਤੀ | candle |
| Roshni | ਰੌਸ਼ਨੀ | light |
| Mithai | ਮਿਠਾਈ | sweets |
| Patakhe | ਪਟਾਕੇ | fireworks |
| Rangoli | ਰੰਗੋਲੀ | coloured floor design at the door |
| Tohfa | ਤੋਹਫ਼ਾ | gift |
| Langar | ਲੰਗਰ | the free community meal at the gurdwara |
How the Diaspora Celebrates
You don't need to be in Amritsar. Leicester's Diwali on Belgrave Road is among the largest outside India; Southall, Brampton, Surrey, Yuba City and Melbourne light up every gurdwara and mandir with lamps and fireworks, and families fill the langar hall. It's a perfect evening to try your Punjabi: greet elders with Sat Sri Akaal ji and Diwali diyan lakh lakh vadhaaiyan, and accept the mithai — twice.
Two weeks later, on 24 November 2026 (confirm the date with your gurdwara), comes Gurpurab, the birthday of Guru Nanak: the wish is Gurpurab diyan lakh lakh vadhaaiyan (ਗੁਰਪੁਰਬ ਦੀਆਂ ਲੱਖ ਲੱਖ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say Happy Diwali in Punjabi?
Diwali diyan lakh lakh vadhaaiyan (ਦੀਵਾਲੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਲੱਖ ਲੱਖ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ) or Diwali mubarak (ਦੀਵਾਲੀ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ). Reply with tuhanu vi — "to you too".
What is Bandi Chhor Divas?
The Sikh "Day of Liberation", celebrated on Diwali: it marks Guru Hargobind's release from Gwalior Fort together with 52 imprisoned kings, and his welcome to Amritsar, where the Golden Temple was lit with lamps.
When is Diwali in 2026?
Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas both fall on Sunday 8 November 2026, with Dhanteras on 6 November and Guru Nanak's Gurpurab on 24 November.
Do Sikhs celebrate Diwali?
Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas on the same night, with lamps at the gurdwara, fireworks, sweets and langar — so yes, the celebration is shared, though the story behind it is the Guru's liberation rather than Diwali's Hindu origins.
Celebrate in Punjabi This Diwali with Alfaazo
Festival greetings are the easiest way to start speaking — everyone is waiting to hear them. Alfaazo teaches everyday Punjabi with native audio, the Gurmukhi script and bite-sized lessons you can finish in five minutes a day. Free on iOS and Android.
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