Diwali 2025 is not just about lights, sweets, and family — it’s also your golden opportunity to earn rewards, cashback, and festive deals like never before. This year, brands, banks, apps, and merchants are pulling out all stops with reward offers, bonus points, and discounts. But the real question is: which rewards are truly worth your attention — and how much can you actually get? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down every category of Diwali reward, show you how to maximize them, and help you turn your festive shopping into a smart, money-earning spree.
In Which Items / Categories You Get Benefits
During Diwali, rewards and offers typically appear across these categories:
- Electronics & Gadgets — phones, laptops, TVs, audio gear
(e.g. Lenovo offering up to 55% off plus cashback) Lenovo - Fashion, Ethnic Wear & Accessories — apparel, footwear, jewellery
- Home Décor & Furnishings — lights, furniture, décor items
- Beauty, Personal Care & Wellness
- Groceries & Sweets / Hampers — festive packs and gift boxes
- Travel, Entertainment & Experiences — movie vouchers, getaways
- Banking, Cards & Payment Platforms — cashback, reward points, bonus offers
- Offline Retail & Local Stores — in-store discounts, voucher coupons
When you shop, always check if the merchant is giving extra benefits (e.g. bank card discounts, “shop and win” programs) on top of regular reductions. The best rewards often come by stacking: merchant discount + card / wallet cashback + app bonus.
How Much Rewards You Can Get (Estimates & Examples)
It’s tempting to believe “you’ll get 50 % back!” — but realistically, most rewards fall in certain brackets. Here’s what you may see in 2025:
Cashback / Instant Discount | 5 % to 15 % | HDFC & ICICI are offering 10 % instant discounts on Amazon / Myntra this season Airtel |
Bank / Credit Card Offers | Up to ~10 % extra | Axis Bank’s “Dil Se Open Celebrations” offers festive discounts, cashback, partner deals Axis Bank |
Merchant Discounts | 20 % to 55 % | Lenovo’s Diwali offers go up to 55 % off on laptops / desktops Lenovo |
Reward Points / Gift Vouchers | ₹100 to ₹5,000+ depending on spend | Many merchants give bonus gift vouchers or reward points on crossing certain thresholds |
Stackable / Combo Offers | Extra 5 % or more | Coupons + wallet offers + card discounts add up |
So if you spend, say, ₹50,000 across a few categories, you could realistically get ₹2,500 to ₹7,500 worth of benefits (5–15 %). In some cases, stacking many offers might push it a bit higher, but margins narrow.
Rewards via Apps (Mobile & Web Apps)
Apps are one of the most aggressive arenas for Diwali offers. Here’s how you’ll see rewards in apps:
- Cashback codes / coupon codes – Many apps release special Diwali coupon codes (e.g. “DIWALI25”, “FESTIVE10”), giving flat discounts or extra cashback.
- App-exclusive deals – Some offers are only valid when purchased via the app (not desktop).
- Flash deals / time-limited offers – e.g. “golden hour” discounts, hourly deals, app-only lightning sales.
- Reward points / loyalty credits – E-commerce apps often give extra loyalty points during the festive season.
- Refer & Earn bonuses – Increased referral rewards for inviting friends during Diwali.
- In-app wallet bonuses – For example, when topping up your e-wallet or using it to pay, you may get bonus credits or cashback.
Tips to maximize app rewards:
- Always check the “Offers / Deals” section in the app.
- Stack coupon codes, wallet credit, and payment method discounts.
- Use “add to wishlist / cart early” so you don’t miss flash deals.
- Keep notifications on — apps often send surprise offers during the hours you’re browsing.
Rewards in Online Payment Options
How you pay matters a lot. Many reward schemes hinge on your choice of payment channel. Here are common options and what you can get:
- Credit Cards & Debit Cards
- Instant discounts, cashback, or extra reward points.
- 0% interest EMIs during Diwali.
- Accelerators for specific categories (electronics, fashion etc.).
- Example: Bank offers of 10% instant discounts on Amazon, Flipkart etc. Airtel
- Wallets / Digital Wallet Payments
- Cashback when using wallets like Paytm, Google Pay, PhonePe, etc.
- Sometimes, “cashback + cashback via partner cards” stacking.
- Bonus wallet credits to spend later.
- UPI / UPI-based payments
- Some merchants offer UPI discounts or cashback.
- Cashback “round-up offers” (e.g. pay ₹99, get ₹1 back).
- Buy Now, Pay Later / EMI Platforms
- Platforms like PayLater, Slice etc. may give money-back or reward points for using BNPL during Diwali.
- No-cost EMI offers.
- Bank / Card Portals & Offers Platforms
- Many banks have a special “offers portal” where you activate Diwali deals before using them.
- Coupons / codes usable only after activation via the bank portal.
- Co-branded Cards / Brand Partnership Cards
- Using cards tied to a specific brand may fetch additional discounts or loyalty points.
Pro tip: Always read the terms (minimum spend, maximum cashback, validity) — some offers have restrictions that nullify stacking.
Rewards in Offline Shopping (Brick & Mortar)
Even as online deals dominate, offline shopping (shops, malls, local stores) also participates heavily in this Diwali. Here’s how you’ll see rewards:
- In-store coupons / scratch cards — when you purchase, you might get a discount coupon for your next visit.
- Gift vouchers / cashback coupons — e.g. spend ₹10,000, get ₹500 voucher back.
- Special days / mid-week offers — local shops may offer extra discounts on particular days (e.g., “Diwali Monday sale”).
- Mall tie-ups / loyalty cards — malls sometimes offer bonus “mall points” during festival weeks.
- Card swipe discounts — specific cards may offer instant price reduction in-store.
- Festival fairs & exhibitions — artisan melas, handicraft bazaars often give special deals and festival-only price cuts.
These offline rewards are more unpredictable but useful, especially for last-minute shopping or for products not fully online.
Are These Rewards Worthy?
You might wonder: do all these offers actually save money — or just lure shoppers? The answer is: it depends. Here’s how to decide:
Advantages:
- Real value if you stack offers properly.
- You’re effectively getting discounts on things you were going to buy anyway.
- Some rewards (e.g. gift vouchers, points) act like future discounts.
Pitfalls / drawbacks:
- Some offers come with hidden constraints — minimum spend, exclusions, and validity windows.
- Sellers may inflate base prices beforehand (“before discount”) to make savings look bigger.
- Cashback / points may take time to credit or may have an expiry.
- Too many offers may lead to impulse buying, which defeats the savings.
So yes, the rewards can be very worthy — but only when you strategize, do not overspend, and read the fine print.
How Actually One Can Get the Rewards (Step-by-step guide)
Here’s a step-by-step approach to ensure you capture maximum benefits during Diwali 2025:
1. Plan Ahead / Research
- List what you wish to buy (electronics, fashion, home décor, etc.).
- Monitor offers from those merchants / brands in advance.
- Track bank / card festival offers.
2. Activate Offers / Coupons
- Many bank portals require you to “activate” the offer before you make the purchase.
- Clip / save coupon codes, add to cart items early, and set alert reminders.
3. Stack Offers
- Use merchant discount + coupon + wallet + card discount + reward offers together.
- Eg: Buy a TV — use store’s Diwali sale 30% off, coupon code extra 5%, pay via wallet for ₹200 cashback, pay with card for 5% discount, get reward points.
4. Check Terms Strictly
- Minimum purchase value, excluded items, and valid dates.
- Check how cashback / rewards are credited (instantly, later, or as points).
5. Max Out Rewardable Spend
- If an offer gives an extra reward above a threshold (e.g. spend > ₹5,000), try consolidating purchases so you cross the threshold.
- But don’t overspend beyond your budget.
6. Split Payments Smartly
- Use multiple cards / wallets if they have different offers. But ensure each payment meets minimum spend criteria.
7. Save Proofs & Track Credit
- Save screenshots, order IDs.
- Track when rewards / cashback / points arrive.
- If rewards don’t arrive, file complaints / support tickets referencing proof.
8. Redeem / Use Quickly
- Some cashback / rewards expire quickly. Use gift vouchers or points as soon as possible.
- Convert points into usable discounts, don’t leave them idle.
Sample Scenario & Reward Calculation
Let’s imagine a realistic scenario:
You plan to buy:
- A laptop for ₹60,000
- A fashion outfit for ₹5,000
- Home décor for ₹2,000
Suppose:
- Merchant offers 30 % discount on laptop → you pay ₹42,000
- You use a coupon for an additional 5 % off → ₹42,000 → ₹39,900
- Pay with a bank credit card that gives 10 % cashback → ₹3,990 back.
- Wallet cashback of ₹500
- Reward points equivalent to ₹300
Total spending = ₹39,900 + ₹5,000 + ₹2,000 = ₹46,900
Total benefits = ₹(60,000 − 39,900) i.e. ₹20,100 discount + ₹3,990 + ₹500 + ₹300 = ₹24,890 worth saved / earned
That’s over ~ 53 % total benefit on one item — but note, such stacking is tough in practice (many offers exclude stacking!). Still, a more conservative stacking might yield ~15–25 % benefit overall. This is entirely possible with a disciplined strategy.
Tips & Tricks to Maximize & Avoid Mistakes
- Compare “best total price” rather than just “big discount” labels.
- Watch for “golden hour / limited time offers”
- Do price alerts / tracking (set alerts on products)
- Use multiple payment methods smartly.
- Don’t let expired / invalid coupons trick you.
- Be skeptical of exaggerated “100 % cashback” claims.
- Check seller credibility (for marketplaces)
- Watch redemption timelines
- Don’t overspend just to “get rewards”
Final Verdict & Conclusion
This Diwali 2025 season offers a golden opportunity to reap rewards, discounts, and bonuses across categories. But the real winners will be those who plan, stack smartly, and avoid falling for hype. With a clear wishlist, knowledge of bank / merchant offers, and discipline, you can turn your festive shopping into a rewarding affair.
To summarize:
- Rewards appear in electronics, fashion, décor, beauty, travel, etc.
- Realistic reward levels are 5 % to 15 % in many cases, but stacking can push more.
- Apps and online payments are rich in offers — leverage coupons, wallet, and card benefits.
- Offline shopping also participates via in-store discounts, vouchers, etc.
- Not all offers are genuine — check terms, don’t overspend.
- Follow a systematic approach (plan, activate, stack, redeem) to capture maximum.
Let Diwali 2025 be the festival not only of lights and joy, but also of smart earning and smart spending. May your shopping be joyful and your rewards plentiful. Happy Diwali and prosperous returns!
🎁 Festive Shopper FAQs
Offer Validity – How can I quickly check if an offer is genuine or if prices were inflated before the discount?
The best way is to track product prices at least 2–3 weeks before Diwali. Use price tracking tools or simply note the MRP vs. “sale price” across platforms. Genuine offers show a real price drop, while inflated discounts will often have the same “final price” as before. Cross-check with other e-commerce sites to confirm.
Redemption – What should I do if cashback or reward points are not credited as promised?
First, check the offer T&Cs for credit timelines (many take 7–90 days). If the period has passed:
- Raise a ticket with the merchant / app support.
- Contact your bank or wallet provider with transaction proof.
- Keep screenshots, order IDs, and offer details as evidence.
If not resolved, escalate to the bank’s grievance redressal or consumer complaint channels.
Stacking Limits – Are there specific examples of offers that cannot be stacked, and how can I identify them?
Yes, many offers have restrictions like:
- “Not valid with any other coupon code”
- “Instant discount not applicable with EMI or No-Cost EMI”
- “Wallet cashback cannot be combined with credit card discount”
Always read the fine print before checkout. If stacking isn’t allowed, the system usually rejects the extra coupon or won’t apply cashback. A quick trick: try applying one offer at a time to see the final payable price.
Offline Shopping – How can I find out about local store or mall offers in advance?
- Follow your local mall or store’s social media pages.
- Subscribe to SMS / WhatsApp updates many retailers send before Diwali.
- Check newspaper ads & flyers a week before the festival.
- Join local community WhatsApp groups where people share deals.
- Visit the store early in the season and ask staff about planned offers — many disclose upcoming sale periods.