Here’s a Diwali riddle for every HR and admin team
What’s festive, fast, and somehow fits 3,000 employees with wildly different tastes?
Gift cards.
They’ve quietly become one of the most reliable Diwali gift ideas for employees, not because they’re flashy, but because they work. For remote teams, last-minute hires, and everyone with different preferences, gift cards for Diwali gifting offer something surprisingly rare: choice without complication.
Are Gift Cards Still Relevant in 2025?
Think gift cards peaked during lockdown? Not quite. They’ve evolved with how teams work, and the numbers show it.
- 24% of all corporate Diwali gifts in India are now digital gift cards, more than any other single category.
- The Indian gift card market is projected to double by 2028.
- 80% of corporate buyers now include gift cards in their festive gifting mix.
- 30% of employees list gift cards as their most preferred Diwali perk
This isn’t a fallback, it’s a format that’s grown with the changing workplace, quietly becoming one of the most trusted ways to gift across teams, roles, and geographies.
So, what’s behind the gift card glow-up? Here’s why they’re winning big in the corporate Diwali gifting playbook.
Why Gift Cards Work So Well for Diwali Employee Gifting
1. One gift, thousands of possibilities
When your Diwali gift ideas for employees need to cover vegetarians, tech geeks, beauty buffs, and people who just want coffee, gift cards save the day. Everyone picks their own joy. No duplicates. No awkward regifting.
2. Inbox delivery > Delivery drama
Gift cards for Diwali gifting don’t get stuck in transit. They show up on time, every time, even for remote teams and last-minute hires. No shipping blues, no tracking spreadsheets, just instant festive cheer.
3. Go live before you can say "bulk order"
Corporate Diwali gifting doesn’t have to be a two-month prep cycle. Gift cards can be up and running in a day, especially if you’ve got a digital gifting partner in place. Upload your list, hit send, enjoy your chai.
4. Diwali gifts that don’t mess with your budget
You know what hurts more than a bad gift? Overspending on it. With digital gift cards, you control denominations, usage, and timing, making them one of the most cost-efficient corporate Diwali gift ideas out there.
5. Feels personal, without the pressure
Diwali gifting at scale usually means losing the personal touch. But with custom brand wallets, messages, and even themes, gift cards let you add just enough warmth, without the HR team breaking a sweat.
Of course, not all gift card programs are built equal. If you're thinking of adding them to your Diwali gifting mix, here’s what to watch out for.
Things to Keep in Mind While Choosing Diwali Gift Cards for Employees
1. Offer a Wide Variety of Brands
The best Diwali gift cards for employees feel like mini marketplaces. Tech, travel, food, fashion, whatever they’re into, they should find it. A diverse brand mix makes your corporate gifting feel personal, without you manually customising 700 gift boxes.
2. Keep Redemption Friction-Free
Logins aren’t the enemy, bad ones are. If your Diwali gift card needs three redirects, a new password, and a little prayer, that’s a problem. The best corporate gifting platforms keep redemption simple, intuitive, and fast, even when credentials are involved.
3. Make Expiry Dates Crystal Clear
Nothing kills festive joy like a Diwali gift card that expired while someone was on leave. Be upfront about expiry timelines, include them in the email, in reminders, maybe even in bold. Don’t make employees dig around to find them.
4. Pick Cards That Work Globally
Have teams in Dubai, Delhi, and Dublin? Your Diwali gift cards should too. Choose cards or wallets that are valid across geographies, especially if you’re planning gifting for remote or global teams. International redemption = fewer exceptions.
5. Choose a Platform That Nudges
Just sending gift cards isn’t enough. You need smart nudges, emails, reminders, dashboards, to track what’s redeemed and what’s ignored. Look for gifting platforms that keep the loop tight without spamming your employees.
At the heart of it, great Diwali gifting isn’t about grand gestures. It’s about thoughtful formats that actually work, both for your people and your process.
Conclusion: Gift Cards, But Make Them Diwali-Ready
Here’s the thing about Diwali gifting in 2025: it’s less about guessing what people want, and more about giving them the freedom to choose. Gift cards fit right in, with the structure teams need, and the delight employees want.
At Mandaala, we’ve built a MerchTech-backed gifting platform that helps you do just that. From digital gift cards to branded redemption portals, it’s Diwali gifting, minus the chaos.
🎁 Want to explore gift cards for your team this Diwali?
Check out our Diwali gifting solutions
Mandaala is the solution arm of PrintStop India.
