Dhanteras and Diwali Google Business Profile checklist: hours, offers and posts

In this article11 sections

Quick answer

Before Dhanteras (Friday, 6 November 2026), add special hours for every festival day your timings change, from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj on 11 November. Then publish one Offer post with exact dates, a scheduled Update post for the festival days, fresh photos of your festive stock and correct "More hours" for delivery or pickup. After Diwali, ask genuine customers for reviews with your review link, with no discount or gift in return.

In festival week, many customers search your shop name or "sweets near me" on Google Maps, check the hours and photos, and decide whether to make the trip. If the profile says "Open" when your shutter is down for Lakshmi Puja, you lose that customer and maybe a star in a review.

This checklist is for shops, sweet makers, jewellers, salons, restaurants and gifting businesses, and takes about an hour on a phone. For the wider festive plan, see our last-week Diwali marketing plan.

Which dates should go into your profile?

According to the Drik Panchang 2026 Diwali calendar, the main days are:

• Friday, 6 November: Dhanteras. The Dhanteras puja muhurat for Jodhpur is 6:23 PM to 8:20 PM local time.
• Saturday, 7 November: Kali Chaudas
• Sunday, 8 November: Lakshmi Puja, Diwali
• Monday, 9 November: Amavasya (Diwali Snan)
• Tuesday, 10 November: Govardhan Puja and Gujarati New Year
• Wednesday, 11 November: Bhai Dooj

Local panchangs can differ, so confirm the dates your customers follow. Jewellers and utensil shops should plan collection times around the muhurat.

Step 1: set special hours for every changed day

Google's help page on special hours explains that you can set temporary hours for holidays and events without touching your regular hours. A few details that matter this week:

• Six days in a row is the limit. Special hours cover a temporary change or closure of up to 6 days in a row. Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj is exactly six days, so you can cover the whole stretch.
• Confirm unchanged days too. Google suggests confirming hours for official holidays even when they stay the same, so customers can see your hours are accurate.
• Split shifts are allowed. If you close for puja in the evening and reopen later, add two sets of hours for that date instead of one long block.
• Late nights past midnight. A set of special hours cannot run longer than 24 hours, and timings that cross midnight are entered as two sets, one until midnight and one from midnight.

Open your Business Profile, select Edit profile, then Hours, and next to "Special hours" select Edit. Add each date, untick "Closed" if you are open, and save. Do it today, not on the morning of Dhanteras.

Step 2: check "More hours" for delivery and pickup

If you take orders for home delivery, takeaway or pickup, Google lets you show those timings separately through More hours. Google recommends setting them as a subset of your main business hours. For example, a sweet shop open 8 AM to 10 PM might show delivery from 10 AM to 7 PM.

In the festive rush customers mostly ask "can I still get it delivered today". If your delivery cut-off changes on festival days, say so in your posts too.

Step 3: publish one Offer post that passes review

Google's posts help page lists three post types: Updates, Offers and Events. An Offer needs a title plus start and end dates and times, and it automatically gets a "View Offer" button. You can add a photo, video, coupon code, link and terms.

A clear festive offer looks like this:

• Title: Diwali gift boxes from Rs 499
• Dates: 2 November to 8 November
• Details: what is included, the last order date for festival delivery and the area you deliver to
• Terms: stock limits or exclusions, written plainly

Two rules from Google's photos, videos and posts content policy save a rejected post:

1. Do not type a phone number in the post. Posts with unverified contact details, including phone numbers, emails and social handles, may be removed. Use the Call now button instead, which uses your verified profile number.
2. Hotels cannot run Offer posts. Hotels can post updates, but not offers or any post that mentions deals, discounts or special offers. Hotels and homestays should use Update posts for festive dinners or decorations without prices.

Step 4: schedule Update and Event posts for the festival days

You can schedule a post for a later date and time, so prepare the festive posts in one sitting:

• Update post for 5 November: "Dhanteras hours and collection times", with a photo of the counter or display.
• Event post for a special evening, such as a late-night Dhanteras opening, a rangoli workshop or a festive menu night. An Event needs a title and start and end dates; if you leave out the times, Google shows it as lasting 24 hours on those dates.
• Update post for 9 November: "Thank you, we are open again from..." with your regular hours and a photo of the team.

Use the action button on each post (Order online, Book or Call) instead of writing your number in the text.

Step 5: add fresh photos and festive products

A profile with last year's photos tells customers nothing about this year's stock. Google's photo guidelines ask for JPG or PNG files between 10 KB and 5 MB, with a recommended size of 720 x 720 pixels. Photos should be in focus, well lit and without heavy filters.

Add five to ten real photos this week: the decorated shop front at night, your festive range and gift packing.

If you sell physical goods, the product editor adds items with photos to your profile on Google Search. It suits local stores without an online shop, and products must follow Google's shopping ads policy.

Step 6: check payments and other attributes

Attributes are the small facts on your profile, such as payment options and accessibility. Google's attributes help page shows how to edit them under Edit profile and More. Check that your payment methods and details like wheelchair access are correct before the rush.

Step 7: after Diwali, ask for reviews the right way

The week after the festival is the best time to ask for reviews, because many customers have just visited. Google's tips to get more reviews suggest sharing a Google review link or QR code and replying to reviews. The same page is strict about one thing: offering free or discounted goods or services in exchange for a review, or for changing or removing one, is treated as fake and misleading content and is prohibited.

Google's Maps content policy also says businesses must not discourage negative reviews or ask only happy customers. Send the same polite request to every festive customer, for example on the WhatsApp order confirmation, and reply briefly to each review. Our Google reviews and reputation guide covers replies to difficult reviews.

Your festive Google Business Profile checklist

• Special hours added for 6 to 11 November, including unchanged days
• Split shifts or late-night timings entered correctly
• Delivery, takeaway or pickup timings checked under More hours
• One Offer post with exact dates, terms and no phone number in the text
• Scheduled Update posts for Dhanteras and for the day you reopen
• Five to ten fresh, real photos, including the shop front at night
• Festive products added (if you sell physical goods)
• Payment and accessibility attributes checked
• Review link or QR code ready for the week after Diwali

Need help with your profile?

For more than a festive refresh, read our Google Business Profile optimization guide and our guide to getting more customers from Google Maps in Jodhpur. Krishva Growth is a Jodhpur-based digital marketing agency working with businesses in India, the US and the UK. Our local SEO service and SEO services in Jodhpur cover profile setup, posts and review systems. Get a free audit, message us on WhatsApp at +91 77376 08231 or use our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

How do I show Diwali holiday hours on Google Maps?

Open your Business Profile, select Edit profile, then Hours, and add each festival date under Special hours. You can mark a day closed or enter changed timings, and your regular hours stay the same. Special hours cover changes of up to 6 days in a row.

Why was my Google Business Profile offer post rejected?

A common reason is a phone number, email or social media handle typed into the post, because Google may remove posts with unverified contact details. Use the Call now button instead. Hotels also cannot create Offer posts or mention discounts in any post.

Can I schedule Google Business Profile posts for Diwali in advance?

Yes. When you create a post, turn on "Schedule this post" and pick the date and time it should go live. This lets you prepare Dhanteras, Diwali and reopening posts in one sitting.

Can I give a discount to customers who leave a Google review?

No. Google treats discounts, gifts or payment in exchange for a review as fake and misleading content and can remove those reviews. You can ask every customer for an honest review with your review link or QR code, as long as nothing is offered in return.