Handling of Diwali, Christmas and New Year Greeting Mail - DOP OM dated 23/09/2025

No. 30-10/2020-D

Government of India

Ministry of Communications

Department of Posts

Mail Operations Division

Dak Bhavan Sansad Marg,

New Delhi-110001

Dated: 23.09.2025

To
All Head of Circle

Subject: Handling of Diwali, Christmas and New Year Greeting Mail.

This is regarding putting in place necessary mail collection, transmission, and delivery arrangements for Greeting Mail during the festival season, i.e., Diwali, Christmas and New Year.

Festivals such as Diwali/Christmas and the New Year are occasions on which a large quantum of greeting mail is generated, which requires special attention in order to provide efficient transmission and expedited delivery. It is expected that significant number of gift items, particularly e-commerce consignments, would also be booked on the occasion of Diwali festival. As has been the experience in the past, special arrangements would be required to be made for collection, transmission and delivery of the mail on time. Circles should take pro-active measures for ensuring prompt processing, transmission, and delivery of these articles.

In order to ensure that Diwali, Christmas, and New Year mail are delivered by 20.10.2025, 25.12.2025 & 01.01.2026, respectively, a cut-off date for posting should be fixed and prominently displayed in Post Offices as under:

A. For Diwali Mail

(i) 16th October for other Circles
(ii) 17th October for within Circles

B. For Christmas Mail

(i) 21st December for other Circles
(ii) 22nd December for within Circles

C. For New Year Mail

(i) 27thth December for other Circles
(ii) 28thth December for within Circles

(Posting after the cutoff date is permitted, although delivery on or before the festival may not be assured)

Circles may evolve an effective monitoring system to avoid any possible bottlenecks and ensure prompt movement of this mail. It may be ensured that all supervisory officials are alerted of their special responsibilities and specific role in this regard.

Separate and exclusive handling of Greeting mail should be ensured, and special counters etc., should be opened at important Post offices and Mail offices.