The Light We Share: Celebrating Diwali 2026 Across Our Global Village

As we welcome the Festival of Lights, our global village comes together to celebrate Diwali, a beautiful moment of reflection, joy, prosperity, and the triumph of light over darkness for #AllOfUs.

This year’s global celebration is proudly championed by our Coupa Exceed Employee Resource Group, alongside ERG leads Monica Chan and Sonali Thakur, whose continuous dedication creates spaces for cultural connection, shared learning, and deeper belonging across our communities. Through their partnership, Exceed helps turn moments like this into meaningful global experiences, reminding us that while our backgrounds may be different, the values of warmth, togetherness, and joy that connect us are shared.

Diwali symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. It is a time of renewal and hope. Just as traditional clay lamps (diyas) are lit to brighten homes and pave the way for prosperity, this festival reflects the very spirit that powers Coupa: bringing clarity, visibility, and "light" to complex spaces, while navigating the path forward together.

A Childhood Built on Light and Sweets

For Trishala Jain on our Product Marketing team, Diwali is an emotional journey that begins with cherished childhood memories of home.

"Growing up, Diwali meant glowing diyas along the doorstep and the festive excitement of new clothes," Trishala recalls.

The heart of the home was the kitchen, filled with the aroma of ghee, cardamom, and roasted nuts. "My sisters and I would wait eagerly for the first batch of sweets. It was pure joy: three sisters, a full house, and a celebration shared with everyone around us."

Today, the story has come full circle as Trishala and her husband pass these grounding rituals to their young son. "We light the diyas together, share sweets with our neighbours, and tell him the stories behind the festival. Wherever life and work take him, we want him to know where he comes from and to carry its values with him."

The Generosity of Leadership: "Lighting Someone Else’s Diya"

Diwali's core lesson—that light is meant to be shared—is something Trishala carries directly into her daily work at Coupa.

"Just as my mother shared her homemade sweets with neighbors and friends, I try to bring that same spirit of generosity to work," Trishala explains. "Mentoring my team is my way of lighting someone else’s diya—coaching, opening doors, and celebrating when a colleague shines, because a diya loses nothing by lighting another."

Patience in the Details: Rangoli and Agentic Product Innovation

Diwali is also a time to celebrate new beginnings and welcome prosperity, which historically starts at the doorstep with a hand-designed rangoli.

"Creating a rangoli requires patience and care—every dot, curve, and detail matters before the final pattern comes together," Trishala shares.

This standard of meticulous care perfectly mirrors Trishala's current focus at Coupa as she helps shape and position our next wave of agentic products—AI agents built to act on behalf of finance and procurement teams.

"Building agentic AI products is no different," Trishala observes. "The trust and value our customers see rely on meticulous attention to detail—trusted data, clear guardrails, and thoughtful design."

For Trishala, positioning these capabilities means collaborating closely with engineering teams and product managers to separate real value from hype. "My intention this year is to help our customers understand and trust how agentic capabilities transform the way they spend, launch an incredible product story, and grow the next generation of product marketers on my team. I want to approach it with patience, care for the details, and the belief that something beautiful takes shape when you give it time."

Voices of the Village: Celebrating Tradition & Connection

For Lokesh N Gulechha, Senior Software Engineer at Coupa, Diwali is a festive homecoming defined by family warmth, glowing diyas and traditional sweets. "Growing up in a big family, Diwali was all about preparing homemade sweets together, lighting lamps across every corner of the house and sharing laughter," Lokesh shares. Today, he brings that same spirit of unity to the Pune office, involving in cultural festivities and creating a welcoming workplace family for everyone.

Deeply rooted in traditional values, Lokesh reflects on timeless Sanskrit shlokas that guide both his personal life and professional journey:

• Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya ("From darkness, lead me to light"): A reminder of constant growth, learning and seeking clarity in all endeavors.
• Shubh Labh ("Auspiciousness and Good Fortune"): Welcoming positivity, ethical success and well-being in personal and shared spaces.
• Yogah Karmasu Kaushalam ("Excellence in action is Yoga"): Performing every action with dedication, skill and passion.
• Saha Nāvavatu, Sahanau Bhunaktu, Sahaveeryam Karavavahai (“May we be protected and nourished together.”): Emphasizing mutual respect, collaborative learning and supporting one another.
• Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam ("The world is one family"): Fostering inclusive connection and community across our global village.

Similarly, Pratik Sunil Bhosale, Engineer - Solutions Advisory, highlights how Diwali inspires joy, togetherness, and reflection across teams. "It's a time to celebrate our collective achievements, honor traditions, and look forward to new beginnings with bright energy," Pratik notes. Through active involvement in local office celebrations, both Lokesh and Pratik exemplify how cultural heritage enriches our vibrant global community.

For Pratik, festive preparation includes the cherished tradition of preparing Faral—a delicious assortment of sweet and savory snacks shared with family, friends, and colleagues to mark the festival. In his QA role, Pratik carries this same thoughtful dedication to supporting stakeholders and delivering high-quality results, ensuring every release is seamless and dependable.

One Global Community: Shining Bright from Bangalore to Foster City and NYC

From Pune to Bangalore to Foster City, CA and NYC, Diwali is a global celebration at Coupa, and this year we lit up the world lit up with incredible energy, color, and music:

Sparking Joy in Bangalore

Nothing beats the spirit of togetherness at Coupa in Bangalore. Our newest office in India came alive with traditional wear, stunning floral arrangements, and rows of glowing diyas. Led by local leaders like Ankur Goyal, Piyush Sahay, and Prachi Sahu, the India team sent warm wishes of light and prosperity to Coupa colleagues, customers, and partners worldwide, showcasing the deep cultural pride of our global tech hub.

Lights, Beats, and Dhamaka at Foster City HQ

At our Foster City HQ, Coupanians gathered on November 5th for our Annual Diwali Party! The office was beautifully decorated by passionate volunteers, and everyone brought major energy to both the festive games and the dance floor. Year after year, Smita Ranade who leads Product & Technology Operations in our Foster City, CA HQ continues to pull off incredible Diwali celebrations with the help of dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers!

With over 10 years at Coupa, Smita shares her perspective: "For me, celebrating Diwali within our diverse Coupa community is a beautiful reminder of how sharing our vibrant traditions brings us closer together. It’s incredibly special to bring my whole authentic self to work and share a piece of my heritage with colleagues around the globe."

An Intimate Celebration in Manhattan, NYC

The festivities kicked off early on the East Coast with an intimate, lively NYC Diwali Dinner in Manhattan on November 3rd. Led by local Coupanians, the night was filled with incredible Indian cuisine, laughter, and deep conversations—making it the perfect start to the festive week and building closer bonds among our New York metro team.

A Fresh Start for #AllOfUs

Diwali teaches us a powerful lesson that we carry into our work every day. We can:

• Begin again.
• Grow and design with patience.
• Move forward, lighting the way for one another.

No matter where you are celebrating in our global Village, Happy Diwali! May your year ahead be bright, healthy, and filled with shared prosperity.

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