Key takeaways

  • Diwali falls on Sunday 8 November 2026. Dhanteras is on Friday 6 November.
  • Amazon (from 8 October, SBI 10%) and Flipkart (from 9 October, Axis and ICICI) sales lead the season.
  • Check caps and minimum orders. "10% off" is often capped at a fixed rupee amount per card.
  • Many cards exclude or limit rewards on gold, jewellery and EMI purchases.

October and November are when Indian banks and retailers run their biggest card offers. With the right card you can save meaningfully. With the wrong habits you can end up paying interest into January. Here's how to shop smart this Diwali.

Key dates

  • Amazon Great Indian Festival: from 8 October 2026 (early deals already live). Card guide.
  • Flipkart Big Billion Days: from 9 October 2026 (early access 8 October). Card guide.
  • Dhanteras: Friday 6 November 2026.
  • Diwali (Lakshmi Puja): Sunday 8 November 2026.

The confirmed bank offers so far

  • Amazon: 10% instant discount on SBI credit and debit cards and EMI transactions. Amazon Pay ICICI Bank also gives unlimited 5% back for Prime members.
  • Flipkart: up to 10% instant discount on eligible Axis Bank and ICICI Bank cards, and 10% for Flipkart Axis Bank holders.

Banks also run their own festive campaigns, such as HDFC Bank's "Festive Treats" and ICICI Bank's "Festive Bonanza", with merchant discounts across electronics, fashion, travel and dining. Offers change every year, so check each bank's campaign page when it goes live, rather than relying on last year's list.

How to judge a festive card offer

  1. Find the cap. "10% off" usually means "up to ₹X per card". On a large purchase, the cap is what matters.
  2. Check the minimum order and whether the offer applies once per card or per transaction.
  3. Check EMI terms. The discount on EMI can be different from full payment, and EMI still costs GST on interest.
  4. Add your card's normal rewards to the instant discount. They often stack.
  5. Compare the final price across Amazon, Flipkart, the brand's own site and offline stores. Our sale calculator does the maths.

Gold and jewellery on Dhanteras

Many people buy gold on Dhanteras. Before paying by credit card:

  • Rewards may be excluded or reduced on jewellery on some cards. Check your card's exclusions.
  • Jewellers may add a card surcharge. Ask before paying.
  • Converting a jewellery purchase to EMI means paying interest and GST on it. Only do it if the EMI is genuinely no-cost and you've checked the full cost.

Five festive-season traps

  1. Buying because of the discount. 10% off something you didn't need is 90% wasted.
  2. Stacking EMIs. Several small EMIs quickly add up, and your utilization jumps, which can dent your credit score.
  3. Missing the interest-free window. A big October purchase may fall due in November or December. Use our interest-free period calculator to time it.
  4. Fake offer calls and messages. Scammers pose as banks with "festive offers" and ask for OTPs. Banks never ask for an OTP or PIN. See our scam guide.
  5. Forgetting the bill. Pay the full statement amount. One month of interest at about 3.5% cancels most festive savings.

Which card to use this Diwali

  • Amazon purchases: an SBI card for the instant discount, or Amazon Pay ICICI Bank for 5% uncapped (Prime).
  • Flipkart purchases: Flipkart Axis Bank or another Axis or ICICI card for the sale discount.
  • Everything else online: a broad online cashback card like SBI Card Cashback (5% online, capped at ₹2,000 a month).

Find the best card for your festive spending with the credit card finder.

Worked example: a ₹65,000 TV in the Amazon sale

Suppose the SBI offer is 10% up to ₹1,750 (check the actual cap on the product page):

  • SBI credit card: ₹65,000 − ₹1,750 = ₹63,250 charged. If it's SBI Card Cashback, the regular 5% online cashback (up to ₹2,000 a month) may apply to the charged amount, taking the effective price nearer ₹61,250.
  • Amazon Pay ICICI Bank (Prime): no SBI discount, but 5% back = ₹3,250, an effective ₹61,750.
  • EMI on the SBI card: you may get the discount, but usually no cashback, plus GST on the interest and a processing fee.

The takeaway: on big-ticket items, your everyday 5% card can match or beat a capped "10% off" bank offer. Always compare.

A festive budget in three steps

  1. List what you'll buy before the sales start, with a price you're willing to pay for each.
  2. Assign each purchase to a card based on offers and rewards. Our wallet optimiser helps.
  3. Cap your total at an amount you can pay off in full on the next bill.

FAQs

When is Diwali in 2026?

Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) is on Sunday 8 November 2026, and Dhanteras is on Friday 6 November 2026.

Which bank has the best Diwali credit card offer in 2026?

SBI is Amazon's sale partner (10% instant discount), and Axis and ICICI cards get up to 10% off on Flipkart. Bank-run festive campaigns vary, so compare final prices after caps.

Is it a good idea to buy gold with a credit card?

Only if you pay the bill in full. Some cards exclude jewellery from rewards, and jewellers may add a card surcharge.

Do festive bank offers stack with card cashback?

Often yes. Instant discounts are applied at checkout, and your card's normal cashback or points are usually earned on the amount actually charged. EMI transactions are the common exception.

Sources

About the author

Deepak

Founder & Editor, CardPicker

Deepak founded CardPicker and writes and fact-checks its credit card guides, comparisons and news.

✓ Fact-checked 26 September 2026Prices, dates and card terms in this article were checked against issuer websites, official pages and news reports listed under Sources. Card figures come from our database, which is re-verified regularly. Offers change often, so confirm on the issuer's site before you buy or apply. Spotted an error? Tell us.