The full guide from my reel: how to do it in the Gemini app, and 10 prompts you can copy and paste.
On 6 October 2026 Google released Nano Banana 2.1, the newest version of the image model inside the Gemini app. It’s free to try in the Gemini app (your plan’s daily image limit applies). Google says it’s better at keeping a face consistent, at quality, and at writing text inside an image. That makes it perfect for festive photos: give it one clear selfie, describe the Diwali scene, and you get a photo that looks like you.
What you need
The Gemini app (iPhone or Android), updated, signed in with your Google account.
One clear selfie: face the camera, good light, nothing covering your face, just you in the photo.
For a couple or family photo: one clear photo of each person, added to the same message. Only use photos of people who are happy for you to do this.
How to do it
Open the Gemini app.
Tap + and add your selfie from your photos.
Paste one of the prompts below and send.
Don’t like it? Don’t start again. Reply with one change, for example: “Keep my face exactly the same as the original photo, only change the background.”
Download the one you like.
10 Diwali prompts (copy and paste)
Classic Diwali night: “Using my photo, create a realistic portrait of me on Diwali night, wearing a cream silk kurta, standing on a balcony lit with clay diyas and warm string lights, soft golden glow, background softly blurred. Keep my face exactly the same as in the photo.”
Rangoli: “Using my photo, create a realistic photo of me sitting next to a colourful flower-and-colour rangoli on the floor, with diyas around it, wearing traditional Indian clothes, shot from a slightly high angle, warm evening light. Keep my face exactly the same as in the photo.”
Saree or lehenga: “Using my photo, create a realistic photo of me in a red and gold silk saree, holding a lit diya in both hands, warm festive lights behind me, elegant and natural. Keep my face exactly the same as in the photo.”
Sparkler shot: “Using my photo, create a cinematic night photo of me smiling and holding a phuljhadi (sparkler), golden light trails around me, a festive lit-up street softly blurred behind. Keep my face exactly the same as in the photo.”
Couple (add both photos): “Using these two photos, create a realistic Diwali portrait of the two of us together in traditional outfits, standing in a doorway decorated with marigold garlands and diyas, warm golden light. Keep both faces exactly the same as in the photos.”
Family (add each person’s photo): “Using these photos, create a realistic family Diwali photo of all of us sitting together at home, diyas and flowers around us, everyone in festive clothes, warm and happy. Keep every face exactly the same as in the photos.”
Greeting card with your name: “Make a Diwali greeting card using my photo, maroon and gold design with a border of diyas and marigolds, and the text ‘Happy Diwali from [your name]’ in elegant gold lettering. Keep my face exactly the same as in the photo.”
Professional post (LinkedIn / office group): “Make a clean, professional Diwali greeting image with my photo, minimal design with soft gold accents and a few diyas, and the text ‘Wishing you a bright and prosperous Diwali’ in a modern font. Keep my face exactly the same as in the photo.”
90s family album: “Turn my photo into a 1990s film photo of Diwali at home: slightly grainy, warm faded colours, diyas on the windowsill, a festive living room behind me. Keep my face exactly the same as in the photo.”
Watercolour painting: “Turn my photo into a watercolour painting of me on Diwali night, glowing diyas and soft gold and orange washes of colour. Keep my face recognisable.”
Tip: add “4:5 portrait” for an Instagram post or “9:16 vertical” for a story or WhatsApp status at the end of any prompt.
Before you post
Free has a daily limit. Google hadn’t published new limits for 2.1 at launch, so your plan’s usual daily image allowance applies. Spend it on the prompts you like most.
AI images are marked. Gemini adds an invisible SynthID watermark to every image. In some countries you can switch off the small visible mark in Settings › Media Watermark; the invisible one always stays.
Ask first. Only upload photos of people who have said yes.
Faces can still drift. If it doesn’t look like you, reply asking it to keep your face exactly the same, and try again.
Sources
Unite.ai: Nano Banana 2.1 debuts at half the image cost of its predecessor (October 2026). Release date, free in the Gemini app with daily limits, improvements.
Tech Insider: Nano Banana 2.1 launches, cuts image price 50% (7 Oct 2026). Based on Google DeepMind’s model card and pricing page.
PCWorld: Google now lets you nix visible Gemini image watermarks (August 2026). Settings › Media Watermark; SynthID stays.
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