As Diwali approaches next week, households across India are busy with their annual ritual of ‘Diwali safai’ — the grand festive cleaning before the Festival of Lights. But for one family, this year’s cleaning brought an unexpected windfall.
A Reddit user recently shared a post titled “Biggest Diwali Safai of 2025,” revealing that his mother discovered a hidden stash of Rs 2 lakh in old Rs 2,000 notes while cleaning out an old DTH set-top box. The user wrote, “During Diwali safai, my mom found ₹2 lakh in old 2000-rupee notes… hidden inside an old DTH box, probably kept there by my desi dad back during demonetisation times. We haven’t told him yet. Please suggest how to proceed further.”
The post included a photograph showing a bundle of neatly stacked Rs 2,000 notes, which the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) officially withdrew from circulation in 2023. At that time, citizens were given a limited window to deposit or exchange these notes.
The story quickly went viral, sparking curiosity and amusement across social media. Many users chimed in with their reactions and suggestions. One Redditor commented, “They are still legal tender despite being phased out. You can get them exchanged only at designated RBI offices with a Rs 20,000 limit.”
Another user advised a more strategic approach: “Gather your trustworthy friends, distribute Rs 5,000–20,000 among them, and visit RBI branches on different days to exchange the notes. Once done, have them transfer the money back to your account.”
Others took a lighter tone, suggesting the family hold on to a few of the violet-coloured notes as collectibles. “I’d probably save a note or two; they might become antiques in the future. Apart from that, you can check with the RBI, but there’s not much else you can do,” one comment read.
The post has since sparked nostalgia about the demonetisation era of 2016 and humorous debates about the quirky hiding spots people chose for their cash during that time. For this family, however, Diwali cleaning turned out to be more rewarding than expected — quite literally lighting up their festive season with a stroke of luck.
