Diwali / Deepavali
दीपावली
About Diwali / Deepavali
Diwali / Deepavali, the Festival of Lights, is a five-day season of lamps, homecoming, and shared tables, commonly served during the Hindu lunisolar months of Ashvin and Kartika. Food traditions center on exchanging mithai and preparing festive vegetarian meals, with sweets such as Gulab Jamun, Jalebi, Kaju Katli, and assorted mithai offering syrupy, nutty, and fragrant notes of celebration. Regional plates vary beautifully: Gujarati homes often prepare mohanthal, ghughra, and farsan; Bengali Kali Puja tables may feature rasgulla or sondesh; Tamil celebrations bring adhirasam, mysore pak, and murukku; and Nepal’s Tihar is traditionally associated with sel roti and milk sweets. Diaspora communities often adapt these homeland flavors with local touches.
Signature Dishes
Mithai assortment
Gulab Jamun
गुलाब जामुन
Samosas
Jalebi
जलेबी
Kaju Katli
काजू कतली
Regional Variations
Bengal / Eastern India
Diwali observed as Kali Puja, worshipping goddess Kali; sweets include rasgulla, sondesh, kheer, and milk-based mithai.
Gujarat
Marks Bestu Varas (new year); sweets like shrikhand, mohanthal, ghughra and farsan such as chakri, sev, ganthia, mathia, chivda.
Punjab / North India
Celebrated alongside Bandi Chhor Divas (Sikh tradition); sweets include pinni, gulab jamun, kaju katli, motichoor and besan ladoo.
Tamil Nadu / South India
Naraka Chaturdashi is principal day; sweets include adhirasam, mysore pak, badusha, laddu; savouries like murukku are common.
Nepal
Festival known as Tihar (Swanti for Newar Buddhists); traditional foods include sel roti, anarsa, and milk-based sweets.
Sri Lanka
Tamil Hindu community observes Deepavali with oil-lamp lighting, temple visits, and traditional South Indian sweets and savouries.
Mauritius
Public holiday celebrated by Indo-Mauritian Hindu community with diyas, mithai, and homeland-rooted traditions adapted locally.
Fiji
National holiday observed by Indo-Fijian community with lamp lighting, sweets, and family gatherings reflecting North Indian heritage.
Singapore
Deepavali public holiday led by Tamil community; Little India festivities, oil lamps, and South Indian sweets/savouries predominate.
Malaysia
Hari Deepavali public holiday; Tamil-Malaysian families prepare murukku, adhirasam, and host open-house traditions.
Diaspora (UK, US, Canada, Australia, Caribbean)
Hindu, Sikh, Jain communities celebrate with adapted homeland traditions plus local fusion; pan-regional sweets shared across communities.
Observance Practices
Lighting diyas, candles, and lanterns in homes, temples, and workspaces
Sharing and gifting mithai (sweets) with family, neighbours, and community
Family feasts and homecoming gatherings over the 5-6 day festival
Five-day structure: Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdashi, Lakshmi Puja (main), Govardhan Puja, Bhai Dooj
North India / pan-Hindu
Lakshmi Puja on the main night, invoking the goddess of wealth and prosperity
pan-Hindu, especially North & West India
Kali Puja worship of goddess Kali on the main Diwali night
Bengal / Eastern India
Bestu Varas observed as Gujarati New Year the day after Diwali
Gujarat
Bandi Chhor Divas commemorating Guru Hargobind's release
Punjab / Sikh community
Naraka Chaturdashi observed as the principal Diwali day with pre-dawn oil bath
Tamil Nadu / South India
Tihar five-day observance honouring crows, dogs, cows, and siblings (Bhai Tika)
Nepal
Preparation of farsan (savoury snacks) days in advance
Gujarat
Open-house hospitality welcoming friends across communities
Malaysia / Singapore
Fireworks and firecrackers (where locally permitted)
Regions
Cuisines
Related Recipes
Gulab Jamun (गुलाब जामुन) — Indian Rose-Scented Milk Dumplings in Cardamom Syrup
signature·India, diaspora
Gajar Ka Halwa (गाजर का हलवा) — Indian Grated Carrot Pudding with Cardamom
commonly served·North India, Punjabi, diaspora
Chana Masala (चना मसाला) — Indian Spiced Chickpea Curry with Tomato and Onion
commonly served·North India, Punjabi, diaspora
Aloo Gobi (आलू गोभी) — Indian Potato and Cauliflower Dry Curry with Turmeric
commonly served·North India, Punjabi, diaspora
Dhokla (ઢોકળા) — Indian Steamed Savory Chickpea Cake with Mustard Seeds
regional variant·Gujarati
Idli Sambar (इडली सांभर) — South Indian Steamed Rice Cakes with Lentil Stew
regional variant·South India, diaspora