On this page ▾
From Durga Puja to Kali Puja and Diwali, the festive season is when many Odisha businesses make a large part of their year. Cuttack's Durga Puja is among the best known in the state, and shops, sweet makers, jewellers, tailors, restaurants and salons all get busy. The challenge is the same everywhere: customers decide early, ask many questions and compare quickly. This guide shows how to plan Durga Puja and Diwali campaigns on WhatsApp so you reach customers who agreed to hear from you, answer fast and avoid messages that annoy people.
For definitions, see our guides to WhatsApp automation and message templates.
Why Festival Campaigns Fail
- Too late. The first message goes out a week before, after customers have decided.
- Too many. Daily forwards make people block you.
- Too vague. "Big sale" without a date, a product or a reason.
- No staff. A campaign brings replies, and nobody is there to answer.
- Wrong audience. Messages reach people who never agreed to hear from you.
A Festival Calendar for the Season
Dates differ each year, so mark them in your Odia calendar and plan backwards.
| When | Moment | A message that fits |
|---|---|---|
| 6 weeks before | Planning | Decide offers, update stock, and submit your templates |
| 4 weeks before the first festival | Early shoppers | New collection or gift boxes to customers who agreed |
| 2 weeks before | Decision time | Reminder of the offer and its last date |
| During the puja days | Visiting and shopping | Timings, location pin and answers to questions |
| Dhanteras and Diwali period | Gifting and buying | Gift ideas, pre-bookings, pickup reminders |
| After Diwali | Thank-you | A thank-you and a feedback question |
Ideas by Business Type
Jewellers and saree shops
Early-bird bookings, new designs with photos and a showroom visit slot. See our guide for jewellers and handloom shops.
Sweet shops and restaurants
Gift boxes with sizes and prices, pre-orders with pickup dates and a pickup reminder. See our guide for food businesses.
Tailors, boutiques and salons
Stitching deadlines, appointment slots and bridal or festive packages. See our guide for gyms and salons.
Coaching centres and schools
A greeting, holiday timings and the date classes resume, as a utility message to parents.
Electronics, furniture and appliance shops
Exchange offers, delivery dates and installation reminders, without making unprovable price claims.
How to Plan a Campaign Message
- One goal. Visits, orders or enquiries, not all three.
- One offer. Clear, with a start and end date.
- Two or three lines. The offer first, then how to reply.
- A person ready. Someone to reply within the hour during the campaign.
- An opt-out line. "Reply STOP to opt out."
- Daytime only. Morning to early evening.
Sample Messages to Adapt
| Use | Category | Text |
|---|---|---|
| Early-bird offer | Marketing | Namaskar {{1}}! Our festive collection is here at {{2}}. Book before {{3}} and get {{4}}. Reply here to ask or to book a visit. Reply STOP to opt out. |
| Gift box pre-order | Marketing | Hi {{1}}, our festive gift boxes at {{2}} are open for pre-order until {{3}}. Reply with the box size and pickup date. Reply STOP to opt out. |
| Order pickup reminder | Utility | Hi {{1}}, your order {{2}} is ready for pickup on {{3}} at {{4}}. |
| Holiday timings | Utility | Hi {{1}}, {{2}} will be open {{3}} during the festival days. We look forward to seeing you. |
| Thank-you | Marketing | Hi {{1}}, thank you for celebrating with {{2}}. How was your experience? Reply with a number from 1 to 5. Reply STOP to opt out. |
Staying on the Right Side of the Rules
- Opt-in: message only people who agreed, and respect opt-outs.
- Templates: offers and greetings need approved marketing templates. See our Odia templates guide for language choices.
- Official access only: avoid bulk-sender tools. See our Cuttack guide.
- No misleading claims. An offer must be what it says it is.
What About Cost?
For current plans and how WhatsApp usage is charged, see our pricing page.
How Bigool Connect Fits
Bigool Connect, built by Bigool Digital, is a WhatsApp business communication platform that connects through Meta's WhatsApp Business Platform. It is used online, so you can set it up without a visit. Based on what the product does today, it offers:
- Template campaigns: send approved templates to contacts who have opted in, and track delivery, reads and replies.
- Contacts and tags: keep every customer with notes, tags and groups, and import your list from a CSV file.
- Automations: birthday wishes, reminders, welcome messages and follow-ups that start from a new contact, a tag or a date.
- A shared inbox: your whole team answers from one WhatsApp number, with chat assignment and internal notes.
- Photos, documents and location sent from the inbox, and template headers with an image, video, document or location.
- WhatsApp QR codes for shop counters, tables and posters, so a customer can start a chat with one scan.
Bigool Connect does not replace your team and does not guarantee AI accuracy, delivery or sales. For plans and charges, see the pricing page.
Want to plan your festive campaigns? Message the Bigool Connect team or contact us with the form.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start Durga Puja and Diwali campaigns on WhatsApp? Plan about six weeks before the first festival and send your first message three to four weeks ahead, because customers decide what to buy early. Dates change every year, so check the Odia panchang and work backwards.
What kind of offers work on WhatsApp during the festive season? Clear, honest ones: a new collection, a limited-period discount that really ends, a gift box, early-bird booking or a loyalty benefit for regular customers. Avoid claims such as 'lowest price in Odisha' that you cannot prove.
Do I need approved templates for festival offers? Yes. Offers and greetings you send first are marketing messages and need an approved marketing template, with an opt-out line. Submit your templates early, because approval can take time.
Can I send festival greetings to everyone in my phone? No. Message only people who agreed to receive messages from your business. Sending to everyone in your contacts can get your number blocked and reported.
How often should I message customers in the festive season? Less than you think. Two to four messages across the whole season is plenty for most businesses. Quality, timing and relevance matter more than volume, and daytime is better than night.
Can I send a greeting in Odia? Odia is not on Meta's template language list, so send an English, Hindi or Bengali template, perhaps opening with a short greeting such as Namaskar, and reply in Odia once the customer writes back. Our Odia templates guide covers the options.
How do I handle the rush of replies after a campaign? Staff the inbox, set an automatic reply with your timings and the next step, and tag customers by interest. Test your messages first so a flood of replies does not catch you unprepared.
What does it cost? For current plans and how WhatsApp usage is charged, see https://bigoolconnect.in/pricing
Conclusion
A good festival campaign is early, honest, short and staffed. Choose one offer, message only customers who agreed, and keep a person on the inbox while it runs. When you are ready to talk it through, message Bigool Connect.