Here are some quick, delicious, and Easy Diwali Recipes for a bright and joyous festival of lights! Enjoy this festive collection that includes traditional and contemporary recipes for snacks, sweets, and popular drinks.
Whether you're planning a cozy dinner or hosting your family and friends, these recipes are easy to plan ahead and most of them come together in 30 minutes.

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What is Diwali
Diwali is short for Deepavali, meaning "Row of Lights" in Sanskrit. This festival of lights is the most popular festival in the Hindu community and falls in either late October or early November, on a new moon night.
It marks the beginning of the Hindu new year. Diwali signifies the triumph of good over evil, humility over pride, knowledge over ignorance, and light over darkness.
How is Diwali Celebrated
5 days of Diwali: Diwali is typically celebrated over 5 days. We observe the five days as follows; the celebrations may differ regionally though.
- Dhanteras (day 1)
- Chotti Diwali (day 2)
- Lakshmi Puja -Diwali Day (day 3)
- Govardhan Puja (day 4)
- Bhai Dooj + Vishkarma Day (day 5)
While each home has its own rituals, Diwali is most commonly celebrated by lighting diyas (tea lights), cooking and exchanging indulgent sweets (mithai) and snacks, and lighting fireworks.
Since food is such an integral part of Diwali, the preparations start weeks in advance. Today, I'm excited to share some of my family's most cherished, special Diwali recipes.
All these sweet and savory recipes are vegetarian since that's what we eat during the 5 days of celebrations. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!
Diwali Dinner Recipes: For menu ideas and tips on how to plan a Diwali party, check out this detailed post with sample menus: Indian Dinner Party Menu
Diwali Sweets Recipes
Check out some popular traditional mithai recipes made simple, and doable even on weeknights:
Besan Ladoo Recipe - Microwave & Stovetop
Coconut Ladoo (Nariyal Ladoo)
Rava Laddu (Rava Ladoo)
Badam Burfi
Easy Kalakand Recipe
Sugar-Free Kalakand | Keto Kalakand
Indian Milk Cake Recipe
Rasmalai Tiramisu
Nankhatai (Indian Almond Cookies)
Easy Rasmalai Recipe
Badam Halwa
Badam Halwa in Instant Pot
Moong Dal Halwa
Baked Gujiya (Baked Indian Dessert Empanadas)
Carrot Burfi (Carrot Fudge)
Kulfi Ice Cream (No-Churn Indian Ice Cream)
Mango Cheesecake
Easy Kheer (Rice Pudding) Recipe
Diwali Snacks Recipes
Diwali food would be incomplete without some crowd-pleasing savory snacks. Here are some easy recipes for Diwali snacks to add a ton of flavor to your Diwali celebrations.
Samosa Recipe - Air Fryer, Fried & Baked
Dahi Bhalla (Dahi Vada)
Samosa Chaat
Pinwheel Samosa
Samosa Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers
Samosa Chaat Phyllo Cups
Paneer Tikka
Bombay Potatoes
Drinks
Enjoy these popular drinks including a crowd-pleasing Indian cocktail recipe!
Mango Lassi
Nimbu Pani / Shikanji (Indian Lemonade)
Jaljeera - Cumin Spiced Indian Lemonade
Jal Jeera Mojito | Indian Spiced Mojito Cocktail
Masala Chai (Spiced Indian Tea)
Ginger Tea (Adrak Wali Chai)
Fun Facts about Diwali
Here are some interesting facts about Diwali:
- Approximately 15% of the world's population celebrates Diwali.
- It's an official holiday in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Trinidad and Tobago, Myanmar, and Fiji, just to name a few.
- Hindus, Jains, and Sikh communities also celebrate Diwali, each having a different significance in this festival.
Popular Indian Recipes Collections on the Blog
See the full range of Indian Recipes on the blog.
On behalf of the Spice Cravings team, I wish you a Happy & Prosperous Diwali!
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