A weekend-only Diwali plan for working mothers: a schedule, a ChatGPT prompt, a checklist and a grocery list.
This Holi, I faced four unexpected problems at once, and they made my festival terrible.
I had planned to make dahi vada, malpua and aloo puri early in the morning. When I started, some essential groceries were missing. My husband had a tiring week at work and had planned to relax before the festival began. Blinkit, Instamart and BigBasket were not accepting the order.
Meanwhile, both my daughters came into the kitchen to help me. They got things messy. Then my phone rang; it was a work call. A client wanted changes in a draft. After that came another call for the final approval on mail.
Any one of these is easy to handle alone. Together they took over my festive day. I had planned Holi in my head, and a plan in my head had no room for a missing ingredient, a tired husband, two helpers and an office call.
How I Planned Diwali Differently
I decided to plan Diwali ahead, since I only get time on weekends, mostly Saturday evening or Sunday, so every preparation task should fit into those few slots. This post is my Diwali planning as a working mother, written before the festival. It uses lists, scheduled emails and ChatGPT, and you can copy any part of it.
Diwali is on Sunday, 8 November, so you have enough time to start the preparation.
Diwali Preparation checklist for Working Women
You can save this picture on your phone and use it as your Diwali preparation weekend guide.
I sent one rule, nothing new will not start in the Diwali week. If a task was not on the list three weeks earlier, it was be done after Diwali unless urgent.
What Went Wrong at Holi and What I Changed
| What happened at Holi | My plan for Diwali |
| Some groceries were missing | I give husband the list, and he manages the shopping. |
| My husband was tired and did not want to go out | He has several days to shop, so no single evening carries it all. |
| Both daughters crowded the kitchen | My elder daughter will play with the younger one during preparation. |
| The office called for draft changes and approvals | I close drafts and approvals before the festival and schedule emails. |
| Too many tasks and no order | ChatGPT spreads them across the days. |
How much Time Your Have for Preparation?
Before you write any task list, calculate how much time you have. For example I have 2 hours on Saturday evening and 5 hours on Sunday, total 7 hours a weekend. With three weekends before Diwali week, that makes 21 hours for everything at home.
Count the days you actually have left and write your own number. If you have more tasks, you need to buy something ready-made, hand it to someone else or dropped. Deciding this in advance is easier than deciding it on the festival morning.
ChatGPT Prompt for Diwali Planning
I gave ChatGPT all my tasks and asked it to schedule them across the available days before Diwali.
A schedule built around your free hours can make things easy for you. Here is the prompt you can give to ChatGPT, and it will schedule all your tasks. You can make the required changes as per your tasks and available time for best results.
I’m a working mother with a full-time job and two daughters. Diwali is on November 8. My tasks are [make sweets, finish pending office work, schedule emails, clean fans and AC, clean the kitchen, buy outfits, groceries, pooja items]. I’m free [for 2 hours] on Saturday and [5 hours] on weekends. I have this office work [write three blogs, two emails, proofread documents ] and my deadlines are [two days before Diwali]. Spread the tasks across the days before Diwali, put heavy ones on weekends, and keep the last 3 days light. Tell me which tasks someone else in the house can take.
When sharing your details on ChatGPT, use task names only. Do never share confidential office documents into ChatGPT.
Use task names only. Never paste confidential office documents into ChatGPT.
ChatGPT does not know my house, so I read its schedule and move anything that does not fit.
Weekend by Weekend Task List for Each Person
Here is the schedule for everyone:
My Tasks: Three weeks before Diwali, on Saturday evening, I list every task, run the ChatGPT prompt and hand over the staples list. On Sunday, I clean the fans and AC and buy outfits. Two weeks before, on Saturday evening, I buy the pooja items and clean the kitchen together with my husband. On Sunday, I make the besan laddu. One week before, on Saturday evening, I check every grocery item and give my husband the fresh list. On Sunday, I make the gujiya. In Diwali week, I start nothing new, do small jobs only and boil the chana the day before. The day after, I note what worked and what did not.
My husband shops for the staples through the week after he gets the list three weeks before. He helps clean the kitchen two weeks before and buys the fresh items one week before Diwali.
My elder daughter sorts old toys to give away two weeks before, helps put sweets in boxes one week before, and plays with her baby sister during cooking and cleaning in Diwali week.
Everyone follows the two Diwali week rules together, which are to start nothing new and keep to small jobs only.
Handle the Office before the Festival
At Holi, the client’s changes came one call after another. This time I asked for everything at once, in an email I sent three weeks before:
Subject: Availability during Diwali week
Hi [Name],
I will have limited availability from [date] to [date] for
Diwali. Before that, I will send [document] by [date].
Please send all your changes in one list by [date], so I can
close them before the break. For anything urgent that week,
please contact [colleague].
Thanks,
[Your name]
Then I schedule my other emails for working hours, so work moves along without my phone.
Diwali menu and grocery list
I planned five dishes: besan laddu, gujiya, samosa chaat, sev puri and masala chana. I make the two sweets at home. The papdi, sev and chutneys are ready-made, so my Sunday hours go to the sweets and samosas.
I put every ingredient on one list and split it by when it gets bought.
| Buy on the first weekend | Buy on the last weekend |
| Sugar, flour, besan, ghee, elaichi, dry fruits, oil, spices, papdi, sev, chutneys | Khoya, curd, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, coriander, samosas |
The list and quick recipes are in a free PDF.
Download the Diwali grocery list and quick recipes (PDF)
Involving my husband and kids in Diwali preparation
My husband gets the grocery list on the first Saturday and does the shopping over the next few days. My elder daughter gets one small job at the kitchen table, such as putting sweets into a box. My younger daughter is under one and stays with an adult while I do cooking and cleaning.
What If the Diwali Planning Goes Wrong
| If this happens | I do this |
| A sweet is not ready by the last Sunday | I buy that sweet from a shop. The gujiya goes first. |
| The client writes during festival week | I answer once a day, and my colleague covers anything urgent. |
| A grocery item is missing | I check the list on the last Saturday evening, so I still have Sunday to buy it. |
Now your turn?
What is one task you can finish before Diwali week starts? Tell me in the comments. I will be glad to hear from you.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start preparing for Diwali?
Diwali falls on Sunday, November 8, so you should start now. Use the first week to make lists, apply for leave, and book cleaning help. Spend the next two weeks on cleaning and decor, then gifts and clothes. Keep the last week for sweets, snacks and puja items.
How can I involve kids in Diwali preparation?
Give them small tasks they can do. Your older child can sort old toys, clean low shelves, paint diyas, make paper lanterns and help with rangoli. The baby can sit nearby and watch. Make sure to keep hot oil, sharp tools, crackers, and real flames away from both children.
When should I apply for Diwali leave?
Apply now, because many people ask for the same days and early requests get approved first. The main day is a Sunday, so check your office calendar for the Friday before and the Monday after. Govardhan Puja is on Monday, 9 November. Send the request in writing with exact dates.
How do I tell a client I am unavailable during Diwali?
Tell them early, keep it short, and give a return date. Here is a short message to send to a client when unavailable: “Hello, I will be away from 6 to 9 November for Diwali and cannot reply during these days. Please send urgent matters by 5 November. I will be back on 10 November.”
How to schedule Diwali shopping using mobile apps for working mothers?
Pick two fixed evenings after the children sleep. Order clothes, gifts and decor from online platforms by late October. You can use quick delivery apps like Blinkit, Zepto or Instamart in the last three days for flowers, diyas and food items.
