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In Diwali, kitchens across India turn into treasure troves of culinary delights, showcasing a mouthwatering array of foods essential to the festive celebrations.
Diwali will be celebrated on October 31, 2024. (Image: Shutterstock)
Diwali is just a few days away. As the festival of lights approaches, the air crackles with excitement as well as the promise of festive feasts, with kitchens transforming into treasure troves of culinary delights.
In India, celebrations would be incomplete without an array of mouthwatering foods. Sweets are the stars of the show, with people in north India relishing gulab jamun, motichoor ladoos and barfis. In the south, the rich flavours of payasam, coconut barfi and ariselu take centre stage. A symphony of savoury dishes also emerges, each capturing the essence of this joyous occasion.
As we prepare for Diwali on October 31, are you eager to discover the 10 traditional festive treats that will elevate your celebrations?
From mouth watering sweets to delectable savoury delights, every bite will tantalise your taste buds and tell a story of heritage and culture.
Babroo – Himachal Pradesh
Kicking off our journey through Diwali delicacies is babroo, a dessert from Himachal Pradesh. It’s made from all-purpose flour, yeast, sugar and jaggery, resulting in a soft and slightly sweet bread that pairs perfectly with kheer or rabri. With its ability to be stored for a few weeks, babroo is not only a festive indulgence but also a lasting reminder of the celebrations.
Choddo Shaak – West Bengal
In West Bengal, the festivities take on a unique flavour with the celebration of Kali Puja alongside Diwali. A highlight of the occasion is Choddo Shaak, a traditional savoury dish featuring a vibrant medley of 14 green leafy vegetables. This dish is believed to ward off evil spirits during the festive season, making it a significant part of the celebrations.
Gavvalu – Andhra Pradesh
Gavvalu, also known as sweet shells, is a traditional Indian dessert from Andhra Pradesh. It is prepared using all-purpose flour, jaggery, ghee and flour.
Mawa Kachori – Rajasthan
Mawa Kachori is a traditional Indian dessert from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, featuring a sweet crust and a filling of mawa or khoya mixed with dry fruits. The stuffed kachoris are fried to a golden hue and dipped in sugar syrup, giving them a deliciously sweet flavour and a satisfying crunch.
Malpua – Bihar
Malpua, a traditional Indian dessert, is quite popular in states such as Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Assam. These sweet pancakes are made using flour, milk, fennel seeds and other ingredients, which are then deep-fried and dipped in sugar syrup.
Mysore Pak – Karnataka
Mysore Pak is a rich sweet delicacy prepared during Diwali using ghee, sugar, cardamom and gram flour.
Murukku – South India
Murukku is a traditional, crunchy, spiral-shaped snack from South India, usually made using rice flour, black gram flour and spices. It can be enjoyed as a tea-time snack and can be easily stored for a few weeks.
Chorafali – Gujarat
Chorafali is a traditional Indian deep-fried snack from Gujarat. Crispy in texture and spicy in flavour, it is prepared with gram flour, urad flour, aamchur powder, red chilli powder and black salt.
Narikol Laru – Assam
Narikol Laru, a famous Diwali treat from Assam, is a coconut ladoo made with shredded coconut, ghee, green cardamom powder, and sugar. You can also add dry fruits for an additional burst of flavour.
Chirote – Karnataka
Chirote, from Karnataka, is a fried Indian dessert often made during Diwali and other special occasions, using all-purpose flour, ghee, sugar and jaggery.