Punjabi Festival Greetings: Vaisakhi, Diwali, Lohri and Gurpurab ਤਿਉਹਾਰ
What to say at Vaisakhi, Diwali, Lohri, Gurpurab and the rest — including the replies, which are usually a blessing back.
What to know before you use these
- Learn both halves of the greeting — Most festival greetings have a set reply. Knowing only the opening leaves you silent at the moment you most wanted to say something.
- "Vadhaaian" and "mubarak" are both ordinary Punjabi — One is Punjabi, one carried in from Urdu and Persian. Both are used without a second thought, and often in the same conversation.
- "Lakh lakh" multiplies the warmth — A hundred thousand congratulations. It is the standard intensifier for a greeting, not a flourish reserved for special occasions.
All 20 phrases
Cover:
Happy Vaisakhi!
ਵਿਸਾਖੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਲੱਖ ਲੱਖ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ!
Vaisakhi diyan lakh lakh vadhaiyan!
💡 ਲੱਖ ਲੱਖ = 'a hundred thousand congratulations' — the warmest form
Same to you and the whole family!
ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਸਾਰੇ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਸਮੇਤ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ!
Tuhanu vi saare parivaar samet vadhaiyan!
💡 the standard reply to any ਵਧਾਈਆਂ greeting
Happy Diwali!
ਦੀਵਾਲੀ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ!
Diwali mubarak!
💡 ਦੀਵਾਲੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ works just as well
May your home stay filled with happiness
ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਘਰ ਖੁਸ਼ੀਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਭਰਿਆ ਰਹੇ
Tuhada ghar khushiyan naal bharia rahe
💡 a lovely reply to Diwali or New Year wishes
Happy Bandi Chhor Divas!
ਬੰਦੀ ਛੋੜ ਦਿਵਸ ਦੀਆਂ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ!
Bandi Chhor Divas diyan vadhaiyan!
💡 the Sikh celebration on the same day as Diwali
Happy Gurpurab!
ਗੁਰਪੁਰਬ ਦੀਆਂ ਲੱਖ ਲੱਖ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ!
Gurpurab diyan lakh lakh vadhaiyan!
May Guru ji shower his blessings
ਗੁਰੂ ਮਹਾਰਾਜ ਮਿਹਰ ਕਰਨ
Guru Maharaj mehar karan
💡 a natural reply to Gurpurab wishes; ਮਿਹਰ = grace
Happy Lohri!
ਲੋਹੜੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ!
Lohri diyan vadhaiyan!
Congratulations on the baby's first Lohri!
ਬੱਚੇ ਦੀ ਪਹਿਲੀ ਲੋਹੜੀ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ!
Bachche di pehli Lohri mubarak!
💡 a baby's or new bride's first Lohri is a big celebration
Eid Mubarak!
ਈਦ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ!
Eid mubarak!
Khair Mubarak!
ਖ਼ੈਰ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ!
Khair mubarak!
💡 the traditional reply to Eid Mubarak
Happy New Year!
ਨਵਾਂ ਸਾਲ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ!
Navaan saal mubarak!
May the new year bring you happiness
ਨਵਾਂ ਸਾਲ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਲਈ ਖੁਸ਼ੀਆਂ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਆਵੇ
Navaan saal tuhade layi khushiyan lai ke aave
Come to our house for Diwali
ਦੀਵਾਲੀ 'ਤੇ ਸਾਡੇ ਘਰ ਆਇਓ
Diwali te saade ghar aayio
💡 ਆਇਓ is the warm, insisting imperative
Here, sweeten your mouth
ਲਓ, ਮੂੰਹ ਮਿੱਠਾ ਕਰੋ
Lao, munh mittha karo
💡 said while offering sweets at festivals or good news
We're going to watch the nagar kirtan
ਅਸੀਂ ਨਗਰ ਕੀਰਤਨ ਦੇਖਣ ਜਾ ਰਹੇ ਹਾਂ
Asin nagar kirtan dekhan ja rahe haan
💡 the street procession before Vaisakhi and Gurpurabs
May God bring days like this again and again
ਰੱਬ ਕਰੇ ਇਹ ਦਿਨ ਵਾਰ-ਵਾਰ ਆਉਣ
Rabb kare eh din vaar vaar aaun
💡 a blessing said at every happy occasion
Pass on my greetings to everyone at home
ਘਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਾਰਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ ਕਹਿਣਾ
Ghar vich saariyan nu vadhaiyan kehna
Are you coming to the mela?
ਮੇਲੇ 'ਤੇ ਚੱਲਣਾ ਹੈ?
Mele te challna hai?
💡 ਮੇਲਾ = fair; Vaisakhi melas are a diaspora fixture
Happy birthday!
ਜਨਮਦਿਨ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ!
Janamdin mubarak!
💡 plenty of families just sing 'happy birthday' too
Other situations
Eating & Hospitality
At Home
Emotions & Expressions
Travel & Directions
At the Doctor
Emergencies
On the Phone
At the Gurdwara
Weddings & Parties
Talking with Elders
With Children
Encouragement & Compliments
Apologies & Making Up
Daily Routine
Asking for Help
Airport & Journeys
At School & With Teachers
Renting & Household Problems
At the Bank & Sending Money
Taxis & Buses
Cooking Together
Condolences & Comfort
Catching Up & Small Talk
Smaller topics — meeting someone new, the weather, shopping, work, family — live in the full phrasebook, alongside every phrase on this page. See the phrasebook index for the whole set, or the dialogues for these phrases inside whole conversations.