19 Bright and Festive Recipes for Diwali

Foodomania

November 11, 2023 at 12:47 AM·6 min read

Diwali is almost here so now is the perfect opportunity to learn a bit more about Indian culture, the celebrations and most importantly, the food that completes the festival! Often referred to as the Indian festival of lights, Diwali (or Deepavali in South India) is a festive time for diverse religious rituals and celebrations. It's an opportunity to deep clean and spruce up your home, buy new clothes, make delicious edible treats for gifting and of course, host and enjoy get-togethers. One of the key traditions of Diwali is the bursting of firecrackers—and making delicious an array of bright, colorful, and totally festive Diwali recipes.

What Is Diwali?

Every region in India has different traditions for celebrating this festival. It is believed that Diwali is a festival that represents the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness and wisdom over ignorance. It is considered an auspicious time to start anything new, as it coincides with the Hindu New Year. While Diwali is actually on one day, the festivities last anywhere from three to five days, featuring different customs, ceremonies, and food.

When is Diwali?

Diwali follows the Hindu lunar calendar and its date changes annually—it’s celebrated on a moonless night (or Amavasya) in October or November. This year, Diwali falls on November 12, 2023.

How Is Diwali Celebrated?

Diwali celebrations can look different for everyone. Generally, the weeks leading up to the festival are usually a time for redecorating the home, buying new clothes and jewelry, and exchanging gifts—both delicious food and otherwise. Families and friends get together to have lunch or dinner parties and celebrate by cooking delicious foods and bursting firecrackers. In North India, gambling and alcoholic drinks are part of the tradition, and card games are hosted well into the night. Whereas in South India, the celebrations commence rather early, starting 4 am, and ending with a religious discourse in the evening.

What Food Is Eaten During Diwali?

No matter how Diwali is celebrated, food is always the piece de resistance of the festival! There is no right or wrong way to celebrate the festival, since each region has such diverse practices and their own quintessential dishes. In most homes, the menu is vegetarian, and can range from deep-fried delicacies like samosas to simple steamed foods like idli. Savory snacks could include kachoris, pakoras, aloo tikki (potato patties) and chole bhatura. And for the mithai (or dessert), you can have gulab jamun, jalebi, kheer and so much more.

Indian sweets and snacks are usually cooked in large batches, then shared with friends and family. It's also pretty common to visit each other's homes to share the edibles and good wishes for a prosperous new year.

Here are 19 of the best Diwali recipes, both savory and sweet, that will inspire you to celebrate Diwali, in the most quintessentially festive way.