20 Top Diwali Employee Engagement and R&R Ideas to Celebrate at Work

Employee engagement activities for Diwali to brightens the workplace with its spirit of joy and togetherness. 

As organizations strive to foster a culture of unity and employee well-being, what better occasion than Diwali to engage your workforce in a celebration that transcends the confines of cubicles and spreads cheer across the office? 

Explore a world of unique and exciting employee engagement activities and games that will not only add a touch of sparkle to your workplace but also forge lasting bonds among your team members, making this Diwali truly memorable. 

Get ready to light up your employees' hearts and watch productivity and enthusiasm soar like never before!

15 Employee engagement activities for Diwali

Engaging employees during Diwali can foster a sense of togetherness and create a positive work environment. Here are 10 unique employee engagement activities for Diwali

1. Diwali decor contest

Encourage employees to infuse the office with the festive spirit by decorating their workspaces or common areas with Diwali-themed decorations.

This can include colorful rangoli, paper lanterns, and strings of lights. Organize a contest with categories like "Most Creative," "Most Traditional," or "Most Sustainable Decorations" and reward the winners with prizes or recognition.

Benefits 

• Boosted creativity and teamwork. 
• Improved office aesthetics and ambiance.

2. Diwali lunch

Organize a Diwali-themed potluck lunch where employees bring in homemade dishes, sacks and sweets that represent different regions of India. This not only celebrates the culinary diversity of the country but also fosters a sense of community and sharing.

Benefits 

• Celebrates cultural diversity and fosters inclusivity.
• Improved employee morale through shared meals.

3. Diya painting workshop

Set up a diya (oil lamp) painting workshop where employees can express their creativity by painting and decorating diyas. These personalized diyas can be used to light up the office during the Diwali celebration, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Benefits 

• Encourages artistic expression and creativity.
• Creates personalized decorations for the office.

4. Rangoli competition

Rangoli is an art form that involves creating intricate, colorful patterns on the floor. Organize a rangoli competition, allowing employees or teams to showcase their artistic talents by creating stunning rangoli designs in common areas or at the office entrance. You can have judges select the winning design based on creativity and execution.

Benefits 

• Fosters creativity and attention to detail.
• Enhances the visual appeal of the workplace.

5. Diwali card exchange

Encourage employees to take a break from their busy schedules and create Diwali greeting cards for their colleagues. This simple yet thoughtful gesture allows them to convey their good wishes and strengthen their interpersonal relationships.

Benefits 

• Strengthens interpersonal relationships.
• Fosters goodwill and positive communication.

6. Cultural performances

Provide a platform for employees to showcase their cultural talents. This could include traditional dances, musical performances, or even a skit related to Diwali.

These performances not only entertain but also promote cultural appreciation and understanding among your workforce.

Benefits 

• Provides a platform for employees to showcase their talents.
• Boosts team spirit and employee engagement.

7. Diwali quiz

Host a Diwali-themed quiz or trivia contest to test employees' knowledge of the festival. The quiz can cover various aspects of Diwali, such as its history, customs, and regional variations. You can award prizes to those who answer the most questions correctly, making it both educational and fun.

Benefits 

• Enhances knowledge of the festival's history and traditions.
• Encourages friendly competition and intellectual engagement.

8. Gift exchange

Organize a Diwali-themed gift exchange similar to a Secret Santa. Employees draw names and exchange small gifts that embody the spirit of the festival. Gift ideas can include candles, traditional sweets, or decorative items. This activity adds an element of surprise and celebration to the workplace.

Benefits 

• Fosters the spirit of giving and sharing.
• Strengthens relationships among employees.

9. Charity drive

Embrace the spirit of giving during Diwali by organizing a charity drive. Employees can contribute essential items, clothes, or food for underprivileged communities or organizations in need. Encourage your workforce to come together for a meaningful and altruistic cause.

Benefits 

• Boosts employee morale and satisfaction.
• Enhances the organization's reputation for corporate social responsibility.

10. Workplace pooja

To maintain the traditional aspect of Diwali, consider organizing a workplace pooja (prayer ceremony). Invite a priest to conduct rituals and offer blessings for a prosperous year ahead. Employees can participate in the prayers, which can provide a spiritual and contemplative dimension to the festivities.

Benefits 

• Provides a spiritual and reflective dimension to the celebration.
• Promotes cultural inclusivity and respect for diverse beliefs.

11. Diwali talent show

Encourage employees to showcase their hidden talents beyond cultural performances.

Organize a Diwali talent show where employees can demonstrate skills such as singing, dancing, stand-up comedy, magic tricks, or any other unique talents they possess. This activity can be a fun and entertaining way to celebrate the festival.

Benefits

• Showcases hidden talents and skills
• Provides entertainment and enjoyment

12. Diwali-themed workshops

Arrange a series of workshops related to Diwali. These workshops could include sessions on traditional Diwali crafts, mehndi (henna) application, cooking traditional Diwali dishes, or even workshops on stress management and mindfulness to help employees maintain their well-being during the busy festive season.

Benefits

• Encourages hands-on learning and engagement
• Enhances employee knowledge of Diwali traditions and crafts

13. Diwali office parade

Create a mini Diwali parade within the office. Encourage employees to dress in traditional attire and march through the office, showcasing their Diwali decorations, cultural symbols, or even a chariot with a Diwali theme. This adds a vibrant and dynamic element to the celebration.

Benefits

• Adds vibrancy and dynamism to the celebration
• Encourages employee participation and excitement

14. Diwali storytelling session

Diwali is rich in stories and legends. Organize a storytelling session where employees share their favorite Diwali tales, myths, or personal anecdotes related to the festival. This activity can be a great way to learn more about the cultural significance of Diwali.

Benefits

• Shares cultural knowledge and traditions
• Promotes understanding and appreciation of Diwali stories

15. Diwali eco-friendly initiative

Emphasize sustainability during Diwali by organizing an eco-friendly initiative. Encourage employees to bring in recyclables or e-waste for proper disposal, or even plant saplings within the office premises.

This not only aligns with the traditional value of respecting nature but also promotes environmental consciousness.

Benefits

• Fosters environmental consciousness
• Promotes responsible and eco-friendly practices in the workplace

10 Diwali rewards and recognition ideas for your employees

Celebrate the spirit of Diwali by making your employees feel truly valued. With thoughtful recognition and personalized rewards, you can turn festive joy into lasting engagement.

1. Recognize festive contributions with spot awards

During Diwali, many employees go above and beyond to help organize celebrations, support colleagues, or simply spread festive cheer. Recognize their effort with timely spot awards. 

Empuls allows you to create Diwali-themed spot recognitions and instantly reward employees with points or personalized messages. These recognitions can be broadcast on your internal channels, creating a ripple effect of appreciation across the organization.

2. Send personalized Diwali gift cards

Gift cards remain a universally appreciated gift for Diwali. With Empuls, you can go a step further by sending beautifully designed, Diwali-themed e-gift cards that are personalized with the employee’s name and a thoughtful message. Employees can redeem these cards from a wide range of local and global brands, ensuring they receive something they truly value.

3. Launch a peer recognition campaign for Diwali

Foster a culture of appreciation by encouraging employees to recognize one another during the festive season. With Empuls, you can create a Diwali-specific peer recognition campaign where employees nominate and appreciate colleagues for their support, positivity, or contributions. 

Recognition badges with festive themes make the experience engaging and aligned with the Diwali spirit.

4. Delight employees with curated Diwali swag boxes

Nothing says “we care” like a curated Diwali gift delivered to an employee’s doorstep. Empuls makes it easy to send personalized Diwali swag boxes that may include traditional sweets, handcrafted diyas, dry fruits, or branded gifts. This gesture is not only festive but also reinforces emotional connection with your brand.

5. Host a Diwali-themed awards ceremony

Make recognition more memorable with a Diwali-themed virtual or in-office awards ceremony. Categories can include fun and meaningful titles like “Culture Champion,” “Team Player of the Season,” or “Innovation Star.” 

Empuls enables you to manage nominations, votes, and awards distribution seamlessly. Winners can be rewarded with points, experiences, or exclusive merchandise from the Empuls catalog.

6. Celebrate with a digital Diwali wishboard and Wall of Fame

Create a virtual space where employees can share Diwali wishes, gratitude notes, or positive messages for each other. Empuls allows you to set up a festive wishboard and automatically showcase appreciation posts on the Wall of Fame. These interactive features boost participation and bring employees closer, especially in hybrid and remote setups.

7. Run a Diwali points multiplier campaign

To encourage recognition activity during the festive period, launch a limited-time campaign where all recognition actions earn double the reward points. 

This small tweak can significantly increase engagement in your rewards program. Empuls lets you configure such campaigns quickly, track participation, and report outcomes in real time.

8. Offer wellness and experiential rewards

Celebrate Diwali by giving employees the chance to unwind. Empuls offers a comprehensive catalog of experiential rewards, including wellness packages, spa sessions, yoga retreats, festive dining experiences, and more. 

These rewards promote work-life balance while creating lasting memories. You can also allow employees to redeem these experiences using their recognition points.

9. Personalize recognition with leadership shout-outs

Leadership appreciation carries tremendous value. This Diwali, empower your leaders and managers to record short video messages recognizing team members for their efforts throughout the year.

These videos can be shared via Empuls along with a custom recognition post and a small festive gift. This human touch elevates the recognition experience and reinforces a culture of gratitude.

10. Let employees build their own Diwali reward bundle

Instead of offering one standard gift, allow employees to choose from a pre-curated list of Diwali reward options. With Empuls, you can offer a “build-your-own-bundle” experience, where employees select from categories like snacks, décor, gadgets, or wellness products. 

This approach adds a layer of personalization, empowering employees to choose what’s most meaningful to them.

Seamless Diwali gifting with Empuls, unforgettable for your employees

This Diwali, make it easier than ever to recognize and reward your employees—no spreadsheets, no chaos. With Empuls, you can plan, personalize, and deliver festive rewards and greetings in just a few clicks.

Thoughtfully curated Diwali gift collections

Empuls offers a wide selection of Diwali gifts curated to suit every preference and personality:

• Access 1,000+ gift options across categories like fashion, electronics, travel, wellness, home décor, and more.
• Get the best prices with no hidden fees—perfect for gifting at scale without stretching your budget.
• Customize collections to reflect your brand values and meet the diverse tastes of your team.

Pre-built festive greeting templates

Celebrate with more than just gifts. Use Empuls’ ready-to-use Diwali greeting templates to make every interaction more meaningful:

• Personalize greetings to match your company’s tone and visual identity.
• Schedule gifts and messages for timely, automated delivery.
• Send festive wishes and rewards to individuals or entire teams in one go.

A delightful gifting experience for your employees

Every gift feels special with Empuls:

• A branded unboxing screen ensures a memorable and on-brand experience.
• Employees get to choose their preferred gift from the curated collection.
• Enjoy smooth, on-time delivery and 24/7 support to handle all employee queries.

Sign up in under a minute and wrap up your Diwali gifting in just five. Send Diwali gifts with Empuls and make this festival truly rewarding for you and your teams.

Conclusion

These Diwali-themed employee engagement activities and games offer a unique way to foster teamwork, happiness, and creativity within your organization.

By celebrating the festival of lights together, you not only enhance the atmosphere in your workplace but also strengthen the bonds among your team members.

As you plan your Diwali festivities, remember that the true magic of this festival lies in the connections it fosters. May this Diwali season illuminate your workplace with renewed energy and unity. 

Happy Diwali, and may the spirit of engagement continue to shine in your organization!