This Diwali, brands went all out not just with lights and sweets, but with stories that hit right in the feels, tickled your funny bone, and gave you all the festive vibes in one big, warm package. From heartfelt hugs that emojis just can’t replace, to chairs so comfy they could probably defuse a bomb literally, the campaigns this year proved that celebration isn’t just about the sparkle it’s about the moments that truly light us up.
Some brands like Cadbury, Vivo and Tanishq reminded us that while your phone screen might glow, nothing beats showing up in person. Yes, that kind of glow, while others like Zouk served up sass and style, making sure your Diwali look stays flawless without sacrificing your freedom to party like a pro. And then there were those like Frido and Torrent Electricals who made you pause and think: maybe the real gift isn’t gold or gadgets, it’s the gift of time, presence, and a little extra comfort.
So buckle up for a Diwali campaign ride that’s equal parts sweet, soulful, and seriously smart. Because this festive season, it’s not just about what you give or get, it’s about how you show up, chill out, and sparkle in your own unique way. Let’s dive in
Cadbury
Just like every year, Cadbury came up with a heartfelt message. We live in a tech world where everything is available to us within minutes and a few clicks. Even going out and wishing someone during festivals has become a task. Not just that texts have become shorter, and we’re just happy our wish got delivered, got a blue tick, and maybe even a heart.
Wishing Happy Diwali with a diya emoji is all we need now. But this Diwali, get out of your phones and homes. Go wish your loved ones the ones who are waiting, even if they’re miles away or in another city. Because hugs say so much more than texts. Be there this Diwali with something sweet and something new.
Titan Watches
Diwali has always been the homecoming season, the great escape for long-distance siblings and faraway friends. It’s that once-in-a-year adulting break where “I’m too busy” turns into “I’m finally home.”
But somewhere between work calls and growing up, we forget the one thing our loved ones really want: our time. Titan’s emotional TVC gently reminds us that gifts are great, but time? That’s the real gold.
So this Diwali, don’t just give sweets or watches, give your time. Promise to show up, stay a little longer, and be fully present. Because honestly, what’s the point of festive lights if your people are still waiting in the dark?
Zouk
We’ve all been there: dressed to slay at a Diwali party, looking like a whole firecracker until someone hits you with the dreaded line: “Can you hold this for me?”
And just like that, you’re not vibing with the music you’re babysitting someone else’s clutch.
Enter Zouk, the brand that finally put its foot (and fashion) down with their campaign: ‘No more “Hold this for me” anymore’.
Zouk gets the real Diwali struggle style vs. storage and said, why pick when you can have both? Their bags are bold, functional, proudly Indian, and roomy enough to fit your phone, lipstick, charger, emergency kaju katli, and most importantly your own stuff.
This festive season, Zouk isn’t just selling bags. They’re serving solutions with sass.
Tanishq
If you’ve ever lived away from home, especially abroad, you know festivals hit different. Diwali away from India feels a little different, the streets don’t sparkle quite the same, and the aroma of homemade laddoos might not fill the air.
For Indian parents with NRI kids, blending desi traditions with a whole new zip code can get complicated.
That’s where Tanishq’s India Wali Diwali comes in, with a beautiful reminder: no matter where life takes us, Diwali will always be India Wali.
So this Diwali, wherever you are, be it a cozy apartment on Vancouver Island or a snowy backyard in New York, light up your place like you’re hosting the whole Indian neighborhood. Because, who says you can’t carry a bit of Desi swag across continents?
Vivo
Before the celebrations even begin, it’s the little preparations that make Diwali truly magical.
Every kid who’s moved away whether just a few towns over or halfway across the globe knows that feeling: the distance suddenly echoes louder, and memories wrap around you tighter.
As time goes by, the roles quietly flip. The parents who once waited at the doorstep for you to come home from school now stand by the gate, hoping you’ll make it home for Diwali.
Vivo’s #JoyOfHomecoming campaign captures this beautifully. It follows a father preparing the house for Diwali who discovers an old handwritten letter from his daughter, a sweet piece of her childhood tucked away like a treasure. He calls her to share the moment, but caught up in life’s chaos, she can’t pick up.
This campaign doesn’t shout; it gently nudges: your place is here, and they’re waiting. Because sometimes, the best Diwali isn’t about dressing up or parties, it’s about showing up, being present, and truly feeling at home.
Home Centre
During the festive season, gifting can be more confusing than picking the right partner! Let’s be real gifts usually just do a house-to-house tour, playing musical chairs.
Enter Home Centre with their ‘Speaking Gifts’ campaign. Their tagline? “Iss Diwali, gift karo formality nahi.”
It’s all about thoughtful gifting that actually makes the other person think about you. So next time you’re buying a gift, pause and ask yourself: Is this a “just because” gift or a “you matter” gift?
This Diwali, let your presents do the talking no more boring hand-me-down vibes!
Starbucks India
Sometimes, the strongest bonds aren’t made by blood, they’re built through shared smiles, heartbreaks, and those “I get you” moments.
With its #HumariSpecialJagah campaign, Starbucks beautifully captures how festivals have evolved. Once all about celebrating with family by blood, now it’s often about celebrating with the family you choose.
Because home isn’t always a place it’s the people who make you feel seen, heard, and understood. And sometimes, that warmth is found over a coffee at your special place.
Torrent Electricals
Behind every glowing fairy light is a mitr (friend) with a toolbox. This Diwali, while everyone’s lighting up their homes and Instagram feeds, Torrent Electricals decided to shine a light on the real MVPs of the festive season electricians. Yep, the ones who literally power our celebrations but rarely get a thank you.
In their heartwarming campaign, #MitronKiDiwali, Torrent flips the script. Instead of talking volts and wires, they talk emotions focusing on that one electrician who shows up last minute, fixes chaos, and quietly brings Diwali to life.
Torrent celebrates respect reminding us that the people behind the plug points matter too. Because Diwali isn’t just about lights it’s about the ones who make sure the lights come on in the first place.
Instamart
This time, Instamart brought in the OG Asli Sona herself Sonakshi Sinha for their sparkling new Dhanteras campaign.
The ad puts a hilarious spin on the classic line “born with a silver spoon”. But Sonakshi? She’s literally born with a golden spoon. From ultrasound scans to playground scenes and full-blown action-hero vibes, that spoon is her day-one flex.
The punchline? “Sona ka sona toh by birth sorted hai. Aap apna dekh lo?” (Sonakshi’s gold is in her DNA, Yours? Just 10 minutes away on Instamart.)
So whether you’re craving soan papdi or shopping for sona, Instamart’s got your Diwali sparkle sorted no showroom visit required.
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AMD Ryzen
This Diwali, AMD teams up with Social Panga and Yellow Shutter to capture a very real (and very relatable) adulting struggle being glued to your laptop even while the rest of the house is lighting diyas and munching kaju katli.
The campaign shines a light on how AMD’s high-performance processors let you wrap up work faster, so you can actually be present when the mithai tray comes out. No lag, no stress, no “just five more minutes” to your mom.
Because your boss can wait. Your family, your moments, your Diwali? They can’t and this season, let your diyas glow brighter than your laptop screen.
South Indian Bank
This Diwali, South Indian Bank’s “Is Diwali, Khushiyon ke Deep Jalaaein” campaign isn’t just about lighting diyas, it’s about lighting up hearts.
Because sometimes, one small act of kindness can set off a chain of joy. And if you can be the reason behind someone’s smile this festive season why not be that?
The film beautifully captures how happiness multiplies when shared one thoughtful gesture at a time. Launched in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada, the campaign celebrates a truly inclusive spirit and reminds us all: Diwali isn’t just about the sparkle outside, but the warmth we create within.
Frido
Frido’s turning up the comfy factor with its “Iss Diwali, Comfort to Banta Hai” campaign. Picture this: a bomb squad guy and a doctor tackling high-stress situations not sweating it because they’re chillin’ on Frido’s super-comfy ergonomic chair.
The message? Comfort it’s your secret weapon for staying cool when life’s ticking like a bomb. So this festive season, ditch the stress and grab a seat that’s all about serious comfort meets superhero focus. Because let’s be real, comfort isn’t a luxury, it’s a must.
