Diwali Leave Application: Formats, Examples & Tips

Diwali is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India and is observed as a public holiday in many parts of our country. Many companies also include Diwali in their annual holiday calendar. This means employees usually do not need to submit a Diwali application simply to take the day off if it is already a company holiday.

However, you may need to submit a Diwali leave application if you want additional days off before or after the festival or need leave on a working day around Diwali. In such cases, a formal Diwali leave request may be required.

This article explains when you may need a leave application for Diwali in the office, how to write one and different formats that you can use to send one.

When Do You Need A Diwali Leave Application?

If Diwali is already listed as a holiday in your company’s holiday calendar, you generally do not need to apply for leave for that particular day. However, you may need to submit a leave request in situations such as:

• You want an additional day off before Diwali
• You want to extend the holiday after Diwali
• Diwali is not a holiday at your workplace
• Your company offers Diwali as an optional or restricted holiday
• You need time off for a personal commitment related to the festival
• You want to combine the Diwali holiday with your available paid leave

Read: Leave Application Formats

When Can You Apply For Diwali Leave?

A Diwali leave application can be applied when you need additional time off around the festival.

• Leave Before Diwali: You may want to take a day off before Diwali to complete household preparations, shopping or other personal tasks.
• Leave After Diwali: If you have commitments after the festival, you can request leave for the next working day instead of applying for the Diwali holiday itself.
• Extended Diwali Leave: Employees can sometimes combine the existing Diwali holiday with paid leave to create a longer break. For example, if Diwali falls on a Friday and the following Monday is a working day, an employee could request Monday off if they have sufficient leave balance.
• Optional Or Restricted Holiday: Some companies provide optional or restricted holidays in addition to their fixed holiday calendar. If Diwali falls under this category in your organisation, you may need to submit a Diwali leave request to use the holiday.

Read: How To Write A 3 Days Leave Application

How To Write A Diwali Leave Application

A Diwali application should be short, clear and professional. You do not need to provide extensive details about your personal plans. A basic application should include:

1. Reason for leave: Briefly explain why you need the day off.
2. Leave dates: Clearly mention the date or dates for which you are requesting leave.
3. Return date: State when you will resume work.
4. Work status: Mention how you will manage important or pending work.
5. Request for approval: Politely ask your manager to approve the leave.

If your company has a specific leave management system, submit the request through the required channel even if you are also sending an email to your manager.

Diwali Leave Application Format

Here is a simple leave application for festival leave that you can customize:

Subject: Diwali Leave Request Dear [Manager’s Name], I would like to request leave on 2026 due to personal commitments related to the Diwali celebrations. I will complete my priority tasks before taking leave and ensure that any important work is properly coordinated with the team. Kindly approve my leave request for the mentioned date. Regards, [Your Name]

Diwali Leave Application For A Day Before The Festival

If you need time to complete preparations before Diwali, you can use a straightforward request.

Subject: Leave Request for [Date] Dear [Manager’s Name], I would like to request leave on 2026, a day before Diwali, to take care of some personal commitments and festival preparations. I have planned my work accordingly and will complete my scheduled tasks before taking leave. Kindly approve my request. Regards, [Your Name]

Diwali Leave Application For A Day After The Festival

If you want to extend your Diwali break by one working day, mention the exact date rather than asking for “Diwali leave.”

Subject: Leave Application for [Date] Dear [Manager’s Name], I would like to request leave on 2026, which is the next working day after the Diwali holiday. I have some personal commitments to attend to and would like to take the additional day off. I will ensure that my pending work is completed before my leave and will resume work on [return date]. Please approve my leave request. Regards, [Your Name]

Diwali Leave Application For An Extended Break

If you want to combine the company holiday with your available paid leave, you can clearly mention the additional dates you need.

Subject: Request for Leave Around Diwali Dear [Manager’s Name], I would like to request leave from [start date] to [end date] to extend the Diwali holiday period. I have reviewed my current workload and will complete the important assignments before starting my leave. I will also coordinate with the team regarding any tasks that may require attention during my absence. Kindly consider my leave request for the mentioned dates. Regards, [Your Name]

Diwali Optional Holiday Request

Some organisations allow employees to select certain festivals as optional or restricted holidays. If Diwali falls under this category at your workplace, you can use a format like this:

Subject: Optional Holiday Request for Diwali Dear [Manager’s Name], I would like to avail the optional holiday for Diwali on 2026, as permitted under the company’s holiday policy. I will complete my planned work before the holiday and ensure that there are no pending priority tasks from my side. Kindly approve my optional holiday request. Regards, [Your Name]

Diwali Leave Application For Personal Commitments

You do not always need to mention travel or family celebrations when requesting festival-related leave. A personal commitment can be stated without going into unnecessary detail.

Subject: Diwali Leave Request Dear [Manager’s Name], I would like to request leave on 2026 due to a personal commitment during the Diwali period. I will make the necessary arrangements to complete my work before taking leave and will resume my regular responsibilities from [return date]. Kindly approve my leave request. Regards, [Your Name]

Short Diwali Leave Request

If your workplace prefers brief emails, you can keep your Diwali leave request concise.

Subject: Leave Request for [Date] Dear [Manager’s Name], I would like to request leave on 2026 due to a personal commitment during the Diwali period. I will complete my priority work before taking leave. Kindly approve my request. Regards, [Your Name]

Diwali Leave Request Through Email

A Diwali leave request can usually be sent through email if this is part of your company’s leave process. Keep the email focused on the information your manager needs. You can mention the requested dates, reason and how you plan to manage your work.

For example:

Subject: Diwali Leave Request – [Your Name] Dear [Manager’s Name], I would like to request leave from [start date] to [end date] around the Diwali holiday due to personal commitments. I will complete my priority tasks before my leave and coordinate with the team regarding any work that needs to be handled during my absence. Please approve my leave request for the mentioned dates. Regards, [Your Name]

Leave Application For Diwali In Office: Checklist

Before submitting a leave application for Diwali in office, check the following:

• Check the Company Holiday Calendar: First, confirm whether Diwali is already included in your company’s holiday calendar. If it is, you do not need to apply for leave for that day.
• Check Your Leave Balance: If you are requesting additional days, make sure you have enough leave available. Depending on your company’s policy, you may be able to use earned, casual or other eligible leave.
• Check Optional Holiday Rules: If Diwali is an optional or restricted holiday in your organisation, check whether employees need to select it in advance or submit a separate request.
• Check the Working Days: Look at the dates around Diwali before submitting your request. This helps you identify which days are already holidays and which ones require a leave application.
• Plan Your Work: If your leave falls during a busy period, complete priority tasks beforehand or arrange a proper handover with your team.

Tips For Sending A Diwali Leave Request

A few simple steps can make your leave request clearer and easier to process.

• Apply in advance: Festival periods can have a high number of leave requests. Sending your request early gives your manager more time to plan team availability.
• Mention exact dates: Avoid saying “I need a few days off around Diwali.” Clearly state the start and end dates.
• Keep the reason brief: A simple explanation is usually enough. You do not need to provide unnecessary personal information.
• Follow company policy: If your organisation requires leave applications through an HR portal, use that process instead of relying only on email.
• Plan the handover: If you have ongoing work, share relevant updates with your team before starting your leave.

Other Festival Leave Applications

The same basic format can be adapted for other festivals if you need additional leave around them. For example, you may need a leave letter for festival celebrations such as:

• Holi
• Eid
• Ganesh Chaturthi
• Christmas
• Dussehra

The key difference is that the holiday calendar can vary between companies and locations. Therefore, always check whether the festival is already a company holiday before submitting a leave request.

Conclusion

A Diwali application is generally not required when Diwali is already a holiday listed in your company’s calendar. However, you may need to submit a Diwali leave application if you want additional days off before or after the festival, need leave for a personal commitment, or want to use an optional holiday.

Before applying, check your company’s holiday calendar, leave balance and applicable leave policy. Mention the exact dates in your request and plan your work or handover in advance. A clear and timely Diwali leave request can help your manager understand your plans and make it easier to manage team schedules during the festive period.

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