Diwali celebrations in India are incomplete without good food. Along with decorating homes, lighting diyas and meeting loved ones, preparing festive dishes is one of the traditions that makes the festival special. Kitchens become busy days before Diwali, with families making sweets, frying snacks and preparing favourite recipes that are often passed down through generations.
What makes Diwali food particularly interesting is that the celebrations look different in every part of the country. While North India is known for its kaju katli, gujiya and rich mithai, western India has its own favourites, such as chakli and shankarpali. In the South, traditional sweets and savoury snacks take centre stage, while eastern India brings a delicious variety of regional delicacies to the festive table.
If you are curious about what people eat during Diwali across the country, here are some traditional sweets and dishes worth knowing about.
1. North India: Gujiya, Kaju Katli and Motichoor Ladoo
In North India, Diwali is closely associated with boxes of mithai exchanged between family members, friends and neighbours. Sweet shops remain busy throughout the festive season, with people shopping for traditional favourites.
Gujiya is one of the most popular festive sweets, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and parts of Madhya Pradesh. It is a crescent-shaped pastry filled with khoya, sugar, dry fruits and sometimes coconut, which is deep-fried until golden.
Kaju katli is another Diwali favourite. Made using cashew nuts and sugar, this thin diamond-shaped sweet is known for its smooth texture and delicate flavour. Motichoor ladoo, made from tiny gram flour pearls, is also commonly prepared or purchased during the festival.
Alongside sweets, savoury snacks such as namak pare, mathri and aloo bhujia are served to guests.
2. Maharashtra: Shankarpali, Chakli and Anarsa
Diwali in Maharashtra is known for its traditional faral, a collection of homemade sweet and savoury snacks prepared before the festival. Families often spend several days preparing these treats, which are served to guests throughout the celebrations.
Shankarpali is a popular sweet snack made from flour, sugar and ghee. Cut into small diamond-shaped pieces and fried until crisp, it is loved for its light sweetness.
Chakli is another Diwali staple. This spiral-shaped savoury snack is made using a flour mixture, shaped with a special mould and deep-fried until crunchy. Anarsa, prepared using rice flour and jaggery or sugar, is another traditional sweet enjoyed during the festive season. Other popular items include chivda, karanji and besan ladoo. Together, they make up a delicious spread that families enjoy with tea and during festive gatherings.
3. Gujarat: Mohanthal, Ghughra and Fafda
Gujarati Diwali celebrations bring together a wonderful mix of sweets and savoury snacks. One of the most loved traditional preparations is mohanthal, a rich sweet made using gram flour, ghee, sugar and nuts. Its slightly grainy texture and rich flavour make it a festive favourite.
Ghughra, similar in appearance to gujiya, is another popular sweet. It usually contains a filling of coconut, dry fruits and sugar, wrapped in a flour-based covering and fried until crisp. Fafda and chakli are also enjoyed during the festive season. Along with these, Gujarati households prepare a variety of namkeen, sweets and snacks that are served to visitors.
4. Rajasthan: Ghewar, Besan Ladoo and Mawa Kachori
Rajasthan's festive food traditions are known for their rich ingredients and distinctive flavours. During Diwali, sweets such as ghewar, besan ladoo and mawa kachori are popular choices. Ghewar is a traditional Rajasthani sweet with a honeycomb-like texture, usually prepared using flour, ghee and sugar syrup. It is sometimes topped with rabri, nuts or saffron.
Mawa kachori is another indulgent treat, filled with sweetened khoya and often coated with sugar syrup. Besan ladoo, made with roasted gram flour, ghee and sugar, is a familiar favourite in many households. For savoury options, people enjoy namkeen, papad and crispy snacks alongside their festive sweets.
5. South India: Adhirasam, Mysore Pak and Murukku
Diwali food traditions in South India have their own distinctive flavours. In Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, families prepare traditional sweets and savoury snacks as part of their festive celebrations.
Adhirasam is a traditional Tamil sweet made from rice flour and jaggery. The dough is shaped into small discs and fried, giving it a rich, chewy texture. Mysore pak, originally associated with the royal kitchens of Mysore, is another popular sweet. Made using gram flour, ghee and sugar, it is known for its rich flavour and melt-in-the-mouth texture.
On the savoury side, murukku is a popular choice. This crunchy, spiral-shaped snack is prepared using rice flour and lentil flour. Athirasam, mixture, ribbon pakoda and different varieties of ladoo are also enjoyed during the festive season.
6. Bihar and Uttar Pradesh: Thekua, Khaja and Anarsa
In Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, festive food traditions include several homemade sweets that are closely associated with family celebrations. Thekua, made from wheat flour, jaggery or sugar and ghee, is particularly familiar from Chhath Puja celebrations, which follow Diwali. Its crisp texture and distinct flavour make it a favourite in many households. Khaja, a layered and flaky sweet coated with sugar syrup, is another popular delicacy, especially in Bihar. Anarsa, made using rice and jaggery or sugar, is also enjoyed in several households. These traditional preparations reflect the importance of homemade food and regional recipes in festive celebrations.
Diwali Snacks That Bring Everyone Together
Apart from sweets, savoury snacks are an essential part of Diwali gatherings. From crispy mathri and namak pare in North India to chakli and chivda in Maharashtra, almost every region has something special to offer.
People also prepare mixtures, roasted nuts, samosas, kachoris and homemade namkeen to serve guests. These snacks are usually prepared in advance so that families can enjoy the festive days without spending too much time in the kitchen. Many households also exchange homemade sweets and snacks with neighbours, adding a personal touch to the celebrations.
Celebrate Diwali with the Flavours of Tradition
Food is one of the most enjoyable parts of Diwali, but it also carries memories, family traditions and regional identities. A plate of gujiya may remind someone of childhood celebrations in Uttar Pradesh, while the smell of chakli and shankarpali may bring back memories of a Maharashtrian household preparing its Diwali faral.
Every region has its own recipes, ingredients and ways of celebrating, and that is what makes India's festive food culture so special.
This Diwali, try something beyond your usual festive menu. Prepare a traditional sweet from another state, share homemade snacks with neighbours or bring home a regional delicacy from a local sweet shop. After all, festivals become even more memorable when good food is shared with the people we love.
