tdn just pointed out that it’s Diwali.
I happen to be in an email conversation with our only customer in India today. We’re about to sign off - should I wish him a happy Diwali?
His last name is Soni and his company is out of New Delhi.
Is wishing an Indian person “Happy Diwali” synonymous with wishing an American “Merry Christmas” - if they don’t celebrate, they’re not too offended anyway?
I once wished a Jewish friend a “happy jewish holiday” (forget which one). He looked aghast, then explained that it was a solemn holiday for remembering the dead.
But Diwali is a happy holiday. I don’t think it would be offensive.
I just e-mailed a coworker a Happy Diwali, on the pretense of asking her how her grant (which I helped her with) turned out. I haven’t gotten a response yet.
I suppose it’s a nice gesture, but if you don’t know and understand the significance of Diwali (I certainly don’t, not to any depth) I wouldn’t go there.
I suppose you could say, “I understand today is Diwali; is this a holiday you observe?” Then he could say yes or no… and you know what to do.
I remember once someone sent me an MLK Day card (I didn’t even know they made them). It was a nice gesture and I didn’t take offense to it, but I wondered if the person sent everyone MLK Day cards, or just his/her Black friends…
Do you know that the guy’s Hindu? Would an Indian Muslim (somewhere around 20% of the population, IIRC) be offended at being wished “happy Diwali”?
I’m not sure which one that would be. Yom Kippur is solemn and is a fast day, but “for remembering the dead” isn’t really a good description of it.
The other Jewish holidays where “happy holiday” wouldn’t be appropriate are ones I’d be shocked if a non-Jew in the US knew when they were (in fact, I don’t usually know when they are, and I doubt I’m atypical of non-Orthodox Jews that way). Tisha B’Av , Yom HaShoah and Yom Hazikaron (the latter two probably fit the description of “a solemn holiday for remembering the dead” the best) are the ones I can think of. But I’d be more shocked that a non-Jewish co-worker knew about those holidays than I would be aghast at being wished a happy holiday.
Well I’m going to go with Hippy Hollow’s suggestion - and ask if it’s a holiday he observes. So far our correspondence has been very nice and he’s a nice guy so it was easy enough to ask.
But I’d still like more input for for future. Thanks guys!
Yom Kippur is correct, IIRC. I grew up in a largely Jewish neighborhood, yet was pretty clueless about the specifics. I had read about rosh hashanah (new years?) though, and I mixed up yom kippur and rosh hashanah. The “remembering the dead” part is more likely my confused understanding of his explanation than his mistake.
Input from someone who works with a variety of persons from all over India.
Friend A, who works upstairs, was tickled when I wished him Happy Divali. I also happen to know that he met his current wife at a Divali celebration.
Officemate S mentioned this week that she will be attending Divali celebrations at the local temple.
This afternoon I wished coworker C a Happy Divali, and he said, “Oh, that’s mostly celebrated by northern Indians.”
I happen to know that officemate S is southern, so there. The thing is coworker C tends to downplay cultural observations in general, while officemate S is very active in the local Indian community.
So my answer is that, while it may or may not be received with enthusiasm, I don’t think it would be taken as rude, either.
He’s in India? I would have said wish him Happy Diwali, it’s like Christmas, everyone is celebrating it in their own way. Diwali is the culmination of approximately a month of festivities anyway, if you count Dussehra, Navratri, and everything else at this time.
Was it afternoon on Yom Kippur when he told you that? I know I get pretty out-of-it by late afternoon from fasting, so I might well have said something totally incorrect and incoherent…
The correct thing to wish a Jewish person on Yom Kippur, btw, is “an easy fast”.
Here is a very cool link that talks about traditions, significance, etc of Diwali. I am very happy that this was pointed out on the sdmb today, as (like I said in the other thread), I already had planned to go see my favourite Indian grocer tomorrow, and this just gives me a wonderful excuse to bring her a little gift.
I think I may even make her smile by wearing one of my lovely sarees that she has sold me. I don’t know that your customer would be offended by being wished “Shubh Diwali” but keep in mind that it may open up discussion that you might not be equipped for – unless you do know quite a bit about Diwali.
Excellent, thanks! We’re starting to work with more people from different countries and this is the stuff we need to know for good customer service. It also helps when we know when people will be off work because of holidays 
Here’s another question, then…we have a consultant working with us who is FROM India but now living in the US (for the past 8 years). Is one to assume he probably is celebrating in some form today? Or once you’re out of India, it’s no big deal?
I ask because we’re not in email discussion with him today, but if an Indian living in the US would appreciate getting a Happy Diwali greeting today, we’d do it.
The person I e-mailed wrote back:
“Thank you. That is very nice of you to know Indian festival.”
Hehe I just had a pretty good giggle over the thought of someone going up to a colleague and saying “Happy Jewish Holiday” I really and going to have to try that sometime.
In a followup she said that she doesn’t really celebrate it, but her parents call her every year to remind her. It sounds very much on par with Christmas.
I wonder if stores in India start putting up Diwali decorations in August.
My team in India is all jacked up about it. It’s a HUGE deal for them. My company has so many Indian employees that we are bending over backward to make sure they get a chance to enjoy it. It’s being treated the same as Christmas.
Bustin’ crackers. That’s what my team is looking forward to. It took a while for me to figure out they were talking about fireworks and not horrific deeds against saltines.
99% of the time I find people are delighted and appreciative that someone outside of our culture knows, and remembered! There’s always that one percent which are assholes but that goes for any culture. Most likely even if he as atheistic as me he is at least acknowledging that the holiday is taking place. And look - I don’t believe in a damn thing religiously, but I went to temple, wore a salwar-kameez, and you bet your ass there’s going to be a light on tonight.
I always tell my non-Hindu friends - here is a fun and easy way to celebrate Diwali in your own homes. The Goddess of Wealth is due to visit people’s homes tonight. Like Santa kind of. However, if you don’t leave a light on, she feels she is not welcome and doesn’t come in. So - leave a light on! Even a nightlight. And perhaps the Goddess of Wealth will bless your doorstep.
After all, it is the Festival of Lights.
In general, Hindus are glad to be wished a “happy” anything regardless of whether it’s something they “observe” or not. Hannukah, Christmas, Id, Diwali. It’s the thought that counts. I wouldn’t hesitate in your position. The chances are that it’s that one weirdo who’s offended are small.
Cool! I have a nightlight in my bathroom, and I never use it. It won’t keep me up, because it’s in another room.
I really need the money.
The Houston Chronicle ran a story today on students in a local Montessori/Indian Culture school, preparing for Diwali.
And local businesses are paying attention.