13 Festival of Lights QR Code Ideas to Brighten Celebrations
The Festival of Lights offers massive opportunities for everyone to participate in and reach more people, and using technologies like QR codes makes the tradition more exciting and interactive.
A 2025 QR TIGER QR Code Generator report shows that their usage surged by 323%, with events and cultural celebrations playing a major role in their adoption, transforming traditional festivities into something more accessible, interactive, and secure.
Whether you’re an event organizer, business owner, or brand looking to make a lasting impression, this list of 13 brilliant Festival of Light QR code ideas will help you illuminate the celebration.
Table of Contents
- 13 ways to use QR codes at the Festival of Lights
- 1. Showcase festival video teasers
- 2. Digital payments
- 3. Ticket reservations
- 4. Flyers for maps and safety tips
- 5. Augmented reality festival experience
- 6. Multilingual content
- 7. Social media presence
- 8. Food ordering
- 9. Hotlines and festival committee contacts
- 10. Festival songs and hymns
- 11. Personalized greetings
- 12. Link to a virtual Festival of Lights
- 13. Cashless donations at temples
- Step-by-step guide: Create a QR code for the Festival of Lights
- The best Festival of Lights QR code usage around the world
- Festival of Lights to experience in 2025
- Alert: Avoid QR code scams during the Festival of Lights
- Make celebrations brighter with a Festival of Lights QR code
13 ways to use QR codes at the Festival of Lights
1. Showcase festival video teasers
Videos play a big role in how people learn about and experience events. They help promote festivals and destinations by giving viewers a glimpse of what to expect, making them more excited to attend.
Consider these insights:
- 63% of travelers, whether for leisure or business, watch travel videos to find things to do at their destination. (ProfileTree)
- 70% of people watch videos on their mobile devices. (Statista)
Event organizers can maximize the impact of these numbers by using a mobile-first approach—and that’s where a video QR code comes in.
But it’s not just that; a compelling call to action can make all the difference. With the right message, a video QR code can grab people's attention and encourage them to participate instead of just watching.
Adding this duo to your print marketing collaterals gives them a digital dimension, transporting viewers into the festival’s vibrant atmosphere, mesmerizing light displays, and rich cultural significance—all from their smartphones.
2. Digital payments
Aside from being amazed by dazzling colors during light festivals, buying stuff is another activity not to miss, and QR code payment is one of the easiest ways to do this.
A 2024 McKinsey survey found that 78% of small businesses in growing markets saw their sales go up by 25% in the first year after using QR payments.
Providing a QR code payment option at food stalls and booths at the Festival of Lights lets customers easily purchase food, souvenirs, and other festival necessities.
It’s just as convenient for vendors. Payments are faster, there’s no risk of counterfeit money, and they don’t have to deal with loose change since the money goes directly into their accounts, making the process smoother and more secure.
3. Ticket reservations
Some festivals require visitors to book tickets online. A smooth ticketing system allows guests to skip long lines and organizers to keep things running smoothly.
Since the Festival of Lights draws huge crowds every year, a lack of a foolproof ticketing system can quickly make entry areas a nightmare. This leaves people frustrated before the celebration even starts.
A simple fix is to add a Festival of Lights QR code to event posters, flyers, and social media. This will allow people to go straight to the official website or ticketing page, ensuring hassle-free and organized entry.
More importantly, it keeps guests safe from fake ticket sellers. Statistics show that:
- More than 37% of people bought a fake ticket. (Nationwide)
- 12.5% of consumers who have bought tickets on social media have fallen victim to scams. (Get Safe Online)
The above data just proves why an e-ticket QR code is now a thing. A verified ticketing QR code prevents this by making sure people buy directly from the official source, making ticket purchases easy, safe, and hassle-free.
Here’s a treat: organizers can create them in big batches with unique owner details using a bulk QR code generator for text.
Now, entry to the venue is as easy as a pie since attendees only have to present their Festival of Lights tickets to the staff, who will scan the codes to confirm their identities.
4. Flyers for maps and safety tips
Big events like the Festival of Lights gather many people, and it’s easy to feel lost on the grounds.
Flyers with an interactive Google Maps QR code help visitors find their way. They can quickly check the locations of the entrances, exits, food stalls, and first aid booths right on their phones.
You can also add a custom landing page to the material that provides essential safety information, prepares attendees for how to stay safe in crowds, and provides a live schedule for when and where key events happen.
Coordinators can upload a downloadable flyer to their official website and email it together with visitors’ ticket confirmations or handprints at main entrances.
If you're helping organize the Festival of Lights, consider using this simple idea.
5. Augmented reality festival experience
Using QR codes and augmented reality (AR) makes the Festival of Lights more exciting. Anyone who scans the code with their phone will see animations, videos, or fun interactive effects.
For brands, it’s a chance to explore this marketing strategy.
Statistics show that 55% of shoppers dig AR-integrated shopping, claiming it makes the experience more fun. (ThinkMobile)
Meanwhile, 71% of shoppers consider shopping more often when they use AR apps while shopping. (ThinkMobile)
Zepto, a quick-commerce company in India, is fast on its feet. With its creative team, AR platform, and a dynamic QR code generator online, the company creates a fun and interactive experience for customers.
In 2024, Zepto launched its Octoberverse campaign, showcasing festivals in the cities where it operates, including the Diwali Festival of Lights.
The QR code redirects customers to Instagram, where they can view the doodle’s move with colors, adding a more festive vibe to the shopping bags.
6. Multilingual content
People from different countries visit the Festival of Lights, but language differences can make it hard for them to enjoy the event. They might struggle to understand the schedule, safety tips, or the stories behind the displays.
Hotels, shops, and restaurants with single-language websites are also missing out on sales and reaching new customers.
A study found that almost 73% of consumers are more likely to buy a product or service from a website that provides information in their native language. (Harvard Business Review)
On the other hand, 40% of people will not buy if it’s not in their language. (CSA Research)
A Festival of Lights QR code for language translation makes things easier. Once people scan it, they instantly read the information in the language they understand.
Companies that offer multilanguage content have an increase in sales by 25% to 70%. (Weglot)
7. Social media presence
User-generated content (UGC), particularly those posted on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, effectively entice people to use a product or visit a place.
Here are some stats to prove it:
- 33% of people trust UGCs, followed by professionally shot content (24%) and influencer content (18%). (Nostro)
- When it comes to travel, 77% of tourists use social media platforms when planning trips. (Expedia)
- 32% to 39% of millennials won’t book a hotel or travel experience from a brand that doesn’t use it in its digital marketing. (Crowdriff)
Organizers of any Festival of Lights can take advantage and use UGCs to promote their events for free and boost the tourism industry.
They can create a social media QR code for all their handles. Upon scanning the code, visitors will find all of their social accounts on one landing page.
After taking selfies and snaps at festivals, visitors who post them on social media sites can tag the event’s official page on their posts and tweets.
Businesses like travel agencies and hotels can also jump into this opportunity by placing all their social media accounts in the Link Page QR code so that guests are able to leave their snaps, reviews, comments, and suggestions.
8. Food ordering
Food stalls and pop-up shops are a big part of any fests, including the Festival of Lights.
For an even smoother ordering process, it is highly recommended to use a digital menu QR code software app to show the full menu with prices.
According to a recent Eater survey, 78% of people prefer QR code menus instead of traditional paper ones. (Menu Tiger)
Customers simply browse, customize their orders, and pay directly through their phones with the menu QR code, while vendors serve more customers and keep lines moving.
Since it is a dynamic QR code, vendors can easily update their digital menu when an item sells out.
9. Hotlines and festival committee contacts
Unexpected situations can arise during festivals, from lost items to medical emergencies.
Letting people search for a contact number on a flyer or asking around for help wastes valuable time. In these moments, quick access to the right people can make all the difference.
Event organizers must provide a vCard QR code containing the contact details of the point person for the security team, first aiders, lost and found services, or the event committee.
Placing this Festival of Lights QR code in key locations on the festival grounds lets festival-goers immediately reach the right people for assistance.
10. Festival songs and hymns
The Festival of Lights is celebrated in many ways, but music always makes it more special.
Take Hanukkah, the Jewish holiday Festival of Lights, for example. Families come together to sing traditional songs like "Ma’oz Tzur" while lighting the menorah candles.
During Christmas, lights and music go together. Carolers fill the streets with songs, and festive tunes play alongside twinkling displays, setting the perfect rhythm for the holiday spirit.
With today’s technology, event organizers can share cultural songs that honor tradition to upbeat tunes that energize the crowd using a tool like an MP3 QR code to give people instant access to curated playlists and themed soundscapes.
11. Personalized greetings
People exchange warm greetings with family and friends during the Festival of Lights, may it be a heartfelt message or a simple “Happy Festival of Lights.”
Businesses also take part by sending out greetings to connect with customers in a more personal and meaningful way.
But instead of simply placing generic messages on posters, brands can create a digital greeting on a landing page QR code.
Attaching it to products and packaging will allow customers to scan and access the festive greeting page on their smartphones, turning their purchase into a shareable holiday moment.
12. Link to a virtual Festival of Lights
Not everyone can attend festivals in person, but that doesn’t mean they have to miss out on the experience. Many festivals now offer virtual events, allowing people to join the celebration from anywhere in the world.
To make it more accessible, organizers can store the link to the live stream on a dynamic URL QR code. Anyone can then watch it on Facebook or the event’s official website through their mobile devices.
And since it’s a dynamic QR code, the link can be replaced with a link to a feedback form or social media page to gather followers right after the live.
13. Cashless donations at temples
Temple visitors donate cash as part of their devotion and to support the temple’s activities. With contactless payment options available, many adopt QR codes to facilitate contactless donation at temples.
In fact, according to a study by the National Council of Nonprofits, 60% of people are more likely to donate if they can do so using their mobile phone. (Tap Donate)
South Indian temples, particularly in Tamil Nadu, have already made digital giving a success, allowing devotees to scan a QR code at donation boxes or temple entrances.
QR code donations are convenient and transparent, as most QR payments are linked to mobile banks, which also urge temples to provide digital records of contributions.
Step-by-step guide: Create a QR code for the Festival of Lights
1. Go to the QR TIGER website and choose the type of QR code you need before filling in the details.
- Select Static QR if you want a free QR code.
- Choose Dynamic QR if you need an editable and trackable code.
2. Customize the QR code. Add your logo, change colors, and adjust the design to match your branding. You can preview the changes in real time.
3. Scan the QR code to make sure it works properly. Then, download it in PNG or SVG format for easy use.
Integrate the QR code in your marketing materials and digital content.
The best Festival of Lights QR code usage around the world
There are many other festivals of lights celebrated in different parts of the globe. Most of these have religious or cultural ties with the local community.
Here are three events, each innovatively using Festival of Lights QR codes:
1. Lantern Festival in China
The Yuan Xiao Festival, or Lantern Festival, is a holiday that marks the end of the festivities for the Chinese New Year.
The lanterns displayed during this festival come with riddles.
In 2019, QR codes appeared on lanterns in Zhanjiakou, China. People answered riddles by scanning the QR codes, and if they got it right, they received prizes.
2. Loy Krathong
Loy Krathong is a significant festival in Thailand. Thais celebrate it under the full moon in the twelfth month of the Thai calendar. The festival’s name means “to float a basket.”
Locals make krathongs, a basket made of banana leaves ornamented with flowers, fragrant oils, and a candle.
People then drift the baskets off on a river during the full moon, making a wish as the baskets slowly float away.
In 2024, the King Power with BMA's Environmental Department and the Rangnam community organized the Rangnam Loy Krathong Digital, wherein participants enjoy an eco-friendly digital krathong experience.
After scanning a QR code on a web app, they were able to design, color, and release a virtual krathong on-screen, view it floating on the water, and receive exclusive discounts from King Power.
3. Christmas
Christmas is in the air at Piccadilly Lights in London’s West End as Coca-Cola launched its 2024 ‘Create Real Magic’ AI out-of-home (OOH) campaign.
People around the area can interact with the AI Santa by scanning the QR code. They were also able to craft Christmas snow globes based on festive memories they share with Santa Claus.
Festival of Lights to experience in 2025
Planning to attend a Festival of Lights once in your life? Here are some events to look forward to in 2025:
1. Vivid Sydney (Sydney, Australia)
Vivid Sydney is set to illuminate the city from May 23 to June 14, marking its 15th anniversary with the theme "Dream."
It’s an annual festival that celebrates creativity, innovation, and technology through captivating light installations, live music performances, thought-provoking talks, and culinary experiences.
2. Diwali Festival of Lights (India)
Diwali, or Dipawali, is the most important Indian holiday. This five-day festival began as a Hindu tradition but is now a national celebration enjoyed by both Hindus and non-Hindus.
On its second day, people adorn their homes with clay lamps and rangoli, an elaborate pattern made using powder or sand in various colors.
Diwali starts on October 18 and ends on October 23, 2025.
The Five Days of Diwali
- Dhanteras - October 18
- Kali Chaudas (interval day) - October 19
- Naraka Chaturdashi - October 20
- Lakshmi Puja (Diwali) - October 21
- Govardhan Puja - October 22
- Bhai Dooj - October 23
3. Yi Peng (Chang Mai, Thailand)
The Yi Peng Lantern Festival is another cherished tradition in Thailand, particularly in Chiang Mai.
It will take place on November 5-6, 2025, and visitors can expect thousands of illuminated lanterns to be released into the sky.
For an organized experience, the Chiang Mai CAD Khomloy Sky Lantern Festival offers official ticketed events on the same dates.
If you’re planning to attend the Yi Peng Lantern Festival, we highly recommend booking your accommodation in advance.
Alert: Avoid QR code scams during the Festival of Lights
Potential QR code scams are targeting pay parking areas. The City Government of Riverside, California, notifies the public about this during their Festival of Lights celebration, reminding the people to only use the official ParkRiverside app and website when paying.
During large gatherings like the Festival of Lights, people need to stay alert to avoid being entangled in malicious acts.
Here are a few tips to protect yourself:
- Check for Potential Tampering—Fraudsters often cover legitimate QR codes with a fake sticker or one with mismatched branding. Look for these signs of tampering.
- Verify the Source of the QR Codes—Smartphone scanners show a preview of the link the QR code leads to. Legitimate sites should have "https://". Avoid pages that look suspicious or ask for excessive personal information.
- Report Suspicious QR Codes—If you notice sketchy QR codes, report them immediately to event organizers, parking attendants, or local authorities. Quick action can prevent others from falling victim.
Make celebrations brighter with a Festival of Lights QR code
The Festival of Lights, in all its global variations, is a time of joy, tradition, and togetherness.
And QR codes further illuminate the future of festival experiences by ensuring that the magic of light is celebrated in the most innovative way possible.
With the best QR code generator, anyone can make customizable QR codes that match the festivities.
Visit QR TIGER today.
