Quick answer
What is cooked for Diwali?
Sweets, mostly: laddoo, barfi, gulab jamun, and fried jalebi. They're made at home and shared with family, neighbors, and guests as a gesture of hospitality.
Diwali
Diwali, India's festival of lights, is celebrated with rows of lit lamps and, above all, sweets shared with loved ones. Sugary laddoo, milk-based barfi cut into diamonds, and fried jalebi belong to its five days in late October or November. Find recipes for the Indian sweets that make the holiday. Cook, then pass them around.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Diwali?
India's five-day festival of lights, falling in late October or early November. Rows of diya oil lamps are lit, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness.
What are laddoo and barfi?
Laddoo are sweet balls of flour, ghee, and sugar, often with nuts. Barfi is a dense milk-based sweet cut into squares, flavored with cardamom, pistachio, or coconut.
Is Diwali food vegetarian?
Mostly, yes — the festive table is typically vegetarian, and many households skip meat for the festival. All the more room for sweets, legumes, and fried snacks.