Deepavali in the Workplace: Building Cultural Awareness and Employee Engagement

Picture this: your Singapore-based team is buzzing. Some colleagues are planning for Deepavali, while others are unfamiliar with its significance. In moments like these, the workplace becomes more than a hub for tasks, it’s a space where cultural recognition drives engagement, belonging, and retention. Recognizing Deepavali is not just about marking a holiday. It’s about embracing diversity as a bridge to stronger employee connection, much like how Christmas in the Philippines traditions bring people together across faith and culture.

What Is Deepavali? A Quick Overview

Deepavali, also called the Festival of Lights, is one of the most significant Hindu festivals. It symbolizes light triumphing over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. In Singapore, Deepavali has been a public holiday since 1929 and is the most widely celebrated Hindu festival. The festival usually falls in October or November, depending on the lunar Hindu calendar.

• In North India, celebrations often honor the return of Lord Rama after defeating Ravana.
• In South India, it can signify Lord Krishna’s victory over Narakasura.

This variation explains why observances may last five days in the North and only one day in the South. Regardless of region, the festival carries the same spirit: renewal, joy, and shared hope.

How Deepavali Is Celebrated Around the World

India

In India, Deepavali is celebrated with remarkable regional diversity but always with the same spirit of renewal. Families begin with ritual oil baths to symbolize purification, then dress in new clothes as a sign of fresh beginnings. Homes are decorated with rangoli (colorful floor designs) and illuminated with diyas (oil lamps) to welcome prosperity and drive away darkness. Families prepare and exchange sweets such as laddu, jalebi, and burfi, while puja (prayer rituals) are performed to honor Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. In the North, the five-day festival often includes fireworks and celebrations of Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya, while in the South, the focus may be on Lord Krishna’s triumph over Narakasura, often celebrated in a single day.

Singapore & Malaysia

In multicultural hubs like Singapore and Malaysia, Deepavali has become both a community celebration and a national event. Singapore’s Little India district glows with spectacular street light-ups, bustling bazaars, and cultural performances that attract both locals and tourists. Temples hold special ceremonies, and many businesses encourage cultural showcases or employee-led sharing sessions to honor the festival. Malaysia, with its large Indian diaspora, celebrates with open houses where families welcome neighbors and colleagues of all backgrounds, reinforcing social cohesion and inclusivity.

In Singapore, Indian communities make up about 7–9% of the resident population. Also, the Little India Light-Up and bazaars help draw both locals and tourists during the festival period.

Global Diaspora

Deepavali’s reach extends far beyond Asia. In the United Kingdom, where Indian and South Asian communities are among the largest minority groups, Deepavali is celebrated with fireworks at public landmarks, temple gatherings, and neighborhood festivals. In the United States, cities like New York, Houston, and San Francisco host interfaith gatherings, cultural parades, and large-scale community events, often supported by local governments. In Australia and Canada, public festivals include music, dance, and food fairs that bring together people of multiple backgrounds, making Deepavali a shared cultural experience that transcends religious boundaries.

Why Employers Should Recognize Deepavali

For businesses in Singapore, a hub of multicultural talent, acknowledging Deepavali is a powerful signal of inclusivity. It supports:

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

values cultural traditions, which builds psychological safety for Indian employees and fosters understanding among colleagues of different backgrounds. This kind of recognition helps transform diversity into inclusion, where employees don’t just work side by side but genuinely feel they belong. For companies looking to strengthen this approach, practical DEI strategies can help embed cultural awareness into everyday workplace practices.

According to ADP’s People at Work 2023 report, while many companies in Singapore have DEI programs, only about 79% of employees feel these are offered and fewer report seeing actual progress. On the other hand, a Randstad survey found 57% of Singaporeans say it is essential that their employer supports DEI.

Employee Engagement & Retention

Engaged employees are more productive and less likely to leave. Celebrating cultural events like Deepavali signals that the organization values employees as whole individuals, not just as workers. When team members feel seen in their cultural identity, it creates deeper emotional connection with the company. This kind of authentic acknowledgment has a direct effect on reducing attrition and strengthening team loyalty.

Employer Branding & Talent Attraction

In Singapore’s competitive hiring market, where companies are constantly competing for skilled multicultural talent, employer branding can make or break recruitment outcomes. By highlighting Deepavali recognition in internal communications and even external channels, businesses project themselves as inclusive, globally minded, and culturally agile. These are traits that resonate not only with employees but also with clients, partners, and potential hires across markets.

Just as companies acknowledge other significant cultural moments like Eid Ul Adha, recognizing Deepavali signals to employees that their traditions matter and their identities are respected. 

Practical Ways to Celebrate Deepavali in the Workplace

1. Education & Storytelling

Host a short lunch-and-learn or virtual session where employees who celebrate Deepavali can share personal traditions, stories, or memories. This not only raises awareness but also opens space for colleagues to ask respectful questions. Some companies invite cultural ambassadors or community representatives to enrich the discussion with broader perspectives.

2. Festive Office Touches

Decorating the workplace can bring the spirit of the festival to life. Simple touches such as rangoli designs at entrances, diya (lamp) displays, or colorful lanterns in common areas create a welcoming atmosphere. Employers can also encourage team participation in decorating, which fosters collaboration and shared ownership of the celebration.

3. Food and Sharing

Few things connect people across cultures as quickly as food. Setting up a communal table with traditional Deepavali treats such as murukku (savory spirals), laddu (sweet flour balls), or burfi (milk-based squares) is a low-cost, high-impact way to spark conversations. Some firms take this further by sponsoring a cultural potluck or partnering with local caterers for authentic Indian snacks.

4. Time-Off Flexibility

Deepavali is a family-oriented festival, often involving temple visits, prayers, and extended gatherings. Offering flexible leave policies or understanding that employees may need adjusted work hours signals respect for personal commitments. This kind of accommodation reinforces psychological safety and demonstrates that the company values balance between professional and cultural responsibilities.

5. Inclusive Greetings and Communication

A thoughtful message from leadership, whether through internal newsletters, Slack channels, or even personalized cards, goes a long way. Using the culturally preferred spelling Deepavali (common in Singapore and South India) shows attention to detail. Encourage team-wide participation in sharing greetings, simple phrases like “Happy Deepavali” can strengthen a culture of inclusivity.

Challenges to Avoid (and How to Get It Right)

Avoid Tokenism

Putting up a few decorations or sending out a generic greeting without deeper engagement can feel performative rather than genuine. Employees may see it as a “check-the-box” activity.
How to Get It Right: Pair visible celebrations like rangoli or lights with substance. Organize storytelling sessions, share educational content, or invite employees to speak about what the festival means to them. This ensures the celebration feels authentic and employee-driven.

Respect Diversity Within the Festival

Not all Indian employees celebrate Deepavali in the same way. Traditions vary across North and South India, and even among families. Some employees may observe it as a religious holiday, while others may see it more as a cultural event. A one-size-fits-all program risks excluding or misrepresenting people’s experiences.
How to Get It Right: Acknowledge the variety of practices and encourage employees to share their unique perspectives. Keep activities broad and flexible so no single narrative dominates.

No Pressure to Participate

What starts as an inclusive initiative can become uncomfortable if employees feel obliged to join activities they may not relate to. Mandatory participation can lead to disengagement instead of connection.
How to Get It Right: Frame Deepavali activities as opportunities, not obligations. Emphasize voluntary involvement and provide multiple ways to engage from attending a cultural talk, to trying festival food, to simply sharing a greeting. This ensures inclusivity without forcing anyone’s hand.

Some holidays, such as Ninoy Aquino Day, are remembered with substance rather than ceremony, the same principle should guide how companies approach Deepavali to avoid tokenism.

The ROI of Cultural Awareness

Recognizing Deepavali is not just “nice to have.” It translates to:

Improved Employee Engagement and Morale

When employees see their traditions respected, they feel a stronger sense of belonging. This translates into higher motivation, stronger discretionary effort, and more willingness to collaborate across teams. Engagement is not just about job satisfaction, it drives productivity and innovation.

Lower Attrition and Higher Retention

Turnover is costly. Employees who feel disconnected are far more likely to leave, while those who feel culturally recognized tend to stay longer. By embedding recognition of Deepavali into workplace culture, companies reduce the silent risk of attrition and preserve institutional knowledge.

Stronger Cross-Cultural Collaboration

Multicultural teams often face communication or trust barriers. Celebrating festivals like Deepavali creates opportunities for colleagues to learn about each other’s backgrounds, building empathy and reducing silos. This enhances teamwork and unlocks the full potential of diverse perspectives.

Enhanced Global Employer Brand

Externally, showcasing cultural awareness signals that your company is inclusive and globally minded. This matters not only for attracting multicultural talent but also for building credibility with international clients and partners. In markets where brand reputation influences business deals, cultural agility becomes a differentiator.

Cultural awareness also strengthens how companies are perceived during highly visible times, much like during an election when inclusivity and respect can shape how leadership is judged.

Final Thoughts

Deepavali is more than a holiday, it’s a metaphor. Light overcoming darkness is a model for how inclusive leadership can shape workplaces where everyone thrives. By recognizing Deepavali, employers don’t just honor tradition; they set the tone for a culture of belonging.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)