To say happy Diwali to all of my customers when I am not Hindu or Sikh?

[FrancineSmith]

I am currently working on a fireworks counter. For context, I am a white British atheist. Over the past couple of days a number of my customers have wished me a happy Diwali as they finished their purchases and I have wished them one back. As today is Diwali, WIBU to wish ALL of my customers a happy Diwali, in the same way I might say Merry Christmas, or is that not considered appropriate? I am not a Christian, but I recognise that there is obviously a cultural element to Christmas too. My only goal is to share the joy and make my customers happy. I have had Hindu and Sikh friends over the years who have welcomed me into their celebrations of Diwali, but I’m not sure that saying it first when it is not MY celebration is ok. My husband is concerned that if I say it to someone who is Asian but not Hindu or Sikh, they may be offended and think I am making assumptions because of their race, and not realise that I am saying it to everyone.

Yes - IABU and should just respond if someone says it to me first.

No - IANBU and wishing everyone a happy Diwali is a nice thing to do.

Make a 'happy Diwali' sign for your counter and put a tub of sweets out. Then just say it back to the ones that say it to you.

I am white and think Diwali looks like a wonderful festival, but your outspoken and unasked-for support comes across as a virtue-signal, sorry. I'm sure you didn't mean it to be, but that's so often the case!

A lot of my friends from non-British cultural backgrounds tell me they're tired of people transparently using them to "test out" their new personal inclusivity efforts.

Honestly just steer clear. If you are on a fireworks counter in a supermarket you are laying yourself open to those who get offended for a living. Far right, far left and everything in between! Smile and say "have fun" , still likely to have some one saying they are packing it with grandma's ashes and it won't be fun...

Yeah do it. I said merry Christmas to a woman once who snapped back that she was Jewish. Just say it back it was so unnecessarily rude

@PlanktonsComputerWife

xyzzzzz I get where you're coming from completely.

I also think if a white atheist (for example) is wishing people Happy Diwali or Eid or whatever, she's doing it to make herself feel good first and foremost, and should acknowledge that.

I’m not sure I entirely agree with this. While I absolutely do feel good when I make someone else happy, that definitely isn’t my main motivation and I don’t believe there are many who would say it was. It makes me a little sad that there are people out there so suspicious of others motives if I’m honest. What on earth could be wrong with wanting to see a smile on someone’s face?

@rainbowmash

I am white and think Diwali looks like a wonderful festival, but your outspoken and unasked-for support comes across as a virtue-signal, sorry. I'm sure you didn't mean it to be, but that's so often the case!

A lot of my friends from non-British cultural backgrounds tell me they're tired of people transparently using them to "test out" their new personal inclusivity efforts.

I’m sincerely sorry if it comes across that way. It has nothing to do with anything other than sharing joy, prompted by the happy response from a little girl who I said it back to yesterday. I accept that IABU and will keep my mouth shut and simply smile.