Diwali Party Guide: Ideas, Recipes & Decor

nyxhit

Celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights,with some glitzy Diwali decorations, mouth-watering Diwali recipes and gifts that can lit your mood.

And it signifies the beginning of Hindu New Year…my 2020 will end next month thanks to Diwali! You all enjoy the rest though (wink).  

Diwali is one of the most beautiful festivals in the world. It is a Hindu festival of light and it usually lasts for five days. Diwali symbolizes- the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. The festival is usually between October and November, with the date changing every year. This year celebrations will be on 14th November. 

The word Diwali comes from the Sanskrit word deepavali – deep means lighted lamp and vali means row. Rows of lighted lamps…

Illuminate your world this Diwali

 

How is Diwali celebrated?

It is believed that on Diwali Goddess Lakshmi (Goddess of wealth and prosperity) visits each house to bless her devotees. So, cleanliness is the essence of this festival. People start cleaning all the corners of the house, and decorate it with beautiful lights, flowers and rangoli. 

via GIPHY

It’s also a time to celebrate it with family and friends. People enjoy Diwali with sumptuous meals, they exchange gifts, have fun and make everlasting memories.

I may not be the best person to highlight the prayer rituals of Diwali as it is different for different communities in India. But the essence of celebration remains the same – love, purity and devotion.

Diwali party guide: Ideas, Recipes and Decoration

How to plan perfect Diwali party?

Diwali is a perfect time to throw a party. Due to CoVID and the rising number of case, Diwali party might look a little different but the essence of the celebration remains the same. Diwali decors, recipes and other ideas will lift your environment with positivity and celebration, even though you are celebrating virtually. Here is the list of essentials to plan a perfect Diwali party to enjoy with your loved ones. 

 

Considering Your Venue

While you’ve got your decorations twinkling and the aroma of delicious treats filling the air, considering the location of your Diwali party can significantly enhance the overall experience. Choosing the right party venues can be as crucial as the event itself. Opt for a space that complements the vibrant decorations and multitude of lights that characterize Diwali. Whether it’s a cozy community hall, a serene park under the stars, or even your spacious backyard, ensure the venue is accommodating enough for your guests to comfortably enjoy the planned festivities. A well-chosen location not only adds to the ambiance but also makes it easier for you to manage the event smoothly, ensuring that everyone goes home with cherished memories of a splendid evening.

 

Diwali Decors

As I said before, cleanliness is the main essence of this festival. It is important to clean every corner of your house to attract positivity and happiness. Decorate it with beautiful lights, flowers and rangoli. Here are some perfect decor ideas to uplift your celebration mood.

1. Lights – Illuminate your world:

Diwali is the Festival of Lights so this is the most important part of the Diwali decor. You can use candles, diyas (clay lamps) and floating diyas to add a touch of tranquility. You can also use LED lights in different colors, shape or style to decorate the interior or exterior of your house. Why not DIY a paper lantern!

Illuminate your world this Diwali

 

2. Floral fusion:

Marigold is the traditional flower of this festival. However, you don’t have to limit yourself to marigolds, you can decorate your house with other beautiful flowers like carnations, roses, lilies etc. There’s nothing more stunning than crafting a DIY arrangement  for the festival.

3. Rangoli- Floor Folk Art:

Rangoli is a colorful art in which designs are made on the floor using powdered and colored rice, colored sand or flower petals. It is made at the entrance of the house to bring good luck and prosperity. You can also use rangoli patterns that can be placed around the house. Find rangoli wall and floor stickers with stunning designs.

Diwali Food Menu

Diwali celebration is incomplete without a mouth-watering Indian delicacies. Even if you’re celebrating virtual Diwali this year, try these recipes to make the festival special. Forget calories for a day!

Recipes for Diwali

1. Dal Makhani- Slow cooked creamy dal makhani is a perfect dish for any occasion.

 

 

2. Butter Chicken-  Aromatic chicken in a scintillating thick gravy can make you land in food paradise. Check out the recipe, here.

Easy Butter Chicken Recipe

3.  Veg Kebabs

Kebabs is a smoky and spicy appetizer/snack that is served with mint chutney (sauce). The main ingredient usually is a chicken but it can also be given a vegetarian twist too. Here is Dahi Kabab where the main ingredient is hung yogurt/Greek yogurt. Find the recipe here.

 

4. Jeera Rice: Jeera or cumin rice can accompany any gravy. This recipe can never fail!

 

5. Naan: No Indian dinner menu is without a flatbread like naan,  tandoori rotis or different varieties of rotis. I am biased towards garlic naan so I am including it in the list. You can find the Garlic Naan Recipe without yeast… here.


 

Sweets Recipes for Diwali 

Any Indian festival is incomplete without sweets. You must have a variety of sweets in your menu that can tantalize your taste buds. Sweets like Kalakand, Besan Laddoos, Gajar halwa, Kaju Katli  are extremely popular in Diwali. You can find 11 Quick and easy Diwali sweets recipes here.
Diwali sweets recipes


Diwali party ideas, themes, and games 

Party Theme

You can opt for a Bollywood themed party with guests enjoying Hindi songs and dance. Also, you can keep a dress code for your party – Indian traditional attires with a bling of gold! Show your Bollywood moves…

via GIPHY

Games:

In my part of the world, Diwali is incomplete without card games till midnight. Teen Patti (Indian Poker), rummy, poker and blackjack are the card games widely played in Diwali. Set up a table or two with playing chips and a present for the winner. You can also have a casino themed party.

via GIPHY

Other games:

Dumb Charades, Tambola, Rangoli contests or Antakshari (Indian singing game where players start singing with last letter of any word) are some popular options for entertainment. You can also do some Diwali art and craft activities with kids to keep them engaged and entertained. 

via GIPHY

Gift Ideas for Diwali

Exchanging gifts with friends and family is an unmissable feature of Diwali celebration. These gifts can be as simple as exchanging sweet boxes, gift cards or a hamper of dry fruits. The idea is to let your friends and family know how much you love and care for them. This year it’s so important to support small businesses in your community. 

Diwali is all about spreading positivity, light and happiness. This year it will be a little different but no one can stop you from celebrating. Virtual party will make you feel closer to your family and friends.

And, probably, this is the perfect time to flaunt my sacred avatar. This is from the last year’s Diwali party but, nevertheless, I want you to appreciate my saree drape…you can feel my pain. I love sarees!

Do share your Diwali experience? I hope you liked the post.

Lots or Love

xoxo

 

 

 

 

99 thoughts on “Diwali Party Guide: Ideas, Recipes & Decor”

    1. You will find marigold decoration everywhere in India – from marriages to festival decors.

    1. Oh yes! Diwali is a time for fun and party…I might throw a virtual party though. Thanks 😊

  4. These are fantastic ideas! Diwali is such an amazing, festive time. We’re having a big party for ourselves at home since we’re still social distancing.

  6. I love that this festival is all about spreading positivity, light, and happiness! The food looks fabulous and this is certainly a fun celebration.

  7. I have never heard of Diwali before but it looks amazing! And I wish my 202 would end a month early! Crazy times but this really does look like a lot of fun!

    1. Crazy times indeed! I am glad that now you know about Diwali and how it’s celebrated. Thanks 😊

  9. A very wonderful great ideas to this special event to our Indian fellowmen. This is definitely a great help and everything looks so mesmerizing.

  10. I can feel my excitement through reading your post. It is definiately one of my goals to celebrate Diwali in India one day. Thank you for sharing these such fun ideas!

    1. Yes…it’s a wonderful celebration indeed and one thing I like the most about this festival is food. Butter Chicken is my favorite tooo…

  12. Having a family rallying behind a special days is one of the things that brings them together. The butter chicken sounds yummy!

  15. Some brilliant ideas! I remember many years ago being at my school friends house and seeing the house decorated for Diwali – it was wonderful and I have always found the celebration so magical.

  17. Wow! Thank you so much for sharing this with us – I love the lights and the flowers! This is amazing. The food (especially the butter chicken) sounds absolutely amazing! Now I need to make some for myself 🙂 Lovely post!

    1. Yes! Butter chicken is my favorite too… I am glad that you liked the Diwali party guide.😊

  19. I love Indian culture, it’s so much fun and festivities and the food is amazing. Thanks for sharing this information and educating me on a little more of you culture

  21. This brought back so many beautiful memories! For years I lived in a country with a large Hindi population and I loved the lights and sweets! Happy Diwali!

  23. My granddaughter is half Indian and will be learning all of these customs. Her grandma spends half of the year in India, so as she gets older, I am sure she will be spending time there too.

  25. I really like all the different aspects there are to Diwali. Especially the food and decoration. I never knew exchanging gifts with friends and family was essential to this celebration though. Thank you for broadening my knowledge of Diwali.

  28. I love this, Saxena. Thanks to you for teaching what the word, “Diwali” means…had no idea! And that butter chicken; I just can’t get enough of it.

  29. I have heard about diwali in age is just a number (an Indian soap opera)the decorations in the soap opera were nice. Does the goddess really visit housese?.

    1. Well…that’s what is said! I hope Goddess of wealth and prosperity showers her blessings this Diwali.

  30. It was interesting to find out more about this celebration. I really love butter chicken.

  32. Diwali sounds like a lot of fun, and I like the ideas behind it too. Butter chicken and naan are 2 of my favorite Indian food dishes!

    1. Butter Chicken and Naan are my favorite food too… Thanks, I am glad that you liked the Diwali party guide.

  34. I absolutely love Diwali in terms of the festivities as well as the meaning and message behind it. Close friends of my fiance and I invited us to their family’s Diwali celebrations and it was such a wonderful evening with so many lights, clothing, decorations, and wonderful food. We were so happy to be a part of it. You look beautiful in that saree by the way.

    1. Thank you for your compliment! It’s not easy to drape saree but it’s fun to wear them on festivals. I a, glad that you enjoyed Diwali party before.🤩

  35. I love this! The combination of candles all over and card games until midnight has me totally sold… Add good food to the mix and you definitely don’t have to ask me twice. I had heard mention of Diwali before this but hadn’t taken the time to dig into what it’s all about. This was really interesting to read.

  36. It is an important festival in India and I am happy that you enjoyed it so much! a good read and in particular, I like the dress in the photo at the end. – Knycx Journeying

    1. Thanks…I am glad that you liked reading about Diwali and it’s party guide. That dress is called a saree…it’s not easy to drape it but it’s fun to wear it.😊

  37. I love marigolds, I have them in my garden and used them to decorate for Halloween. You look so lovely !

  40. I found myself a couple of months ago binge-watching videos of the floor sand art. I did not know it was called Rangoli- Floor Folk Art and used as Diwali party decor. It is so pretty.

    1. That’s awesome….so now you know it’s called Rangoli. I am glad that you liked the floor art.😍

  41. Love the Diwali celebrations. We typically celebrate with friends, but social distancing has ruined that this year. Virtual celebrations for us!

  43. Diwali sounds awesome! I love it when cultures have epic festivals like this especially when it is surrounded by light! With Diwali, I love all the events, games and most definitely the food! But I have to say the Rangoli seems most intriguing to me! Do most people set up the traditional way with rice and flowers? I would be most upset if I accidently stepped on one and messed up the amazing designs! With the way 2020 is going, I may have to just decide to celebrate Diwali and close out this year early!!

    1. Well…Once I accidentally stepped on my mom’s rangoli and I got little scolding. So, it’s always advisable to look down while entering the house or you might annoy the host. 🤣 Thanks…I am glad that you liked reading about Diwali celebration post. 😍

  45. Diwali really looks like a wonderful festival. I like the explanation: Diwali symbolizes – the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.
    Thanks for the wonderful description of all of the above.
    Nina

  46. Stunning ideas. Diwali is indeed a great festival for us Indians. I loved the floor folk art, so neat and beautiful. You look great in the saree.

    1. Thank you for the compliment. I am glad that you liked reading about Diwali party guide. 😍

  49. I assume this didn’t happen this year? I would really love to see this one day! It looks like a great festival to experience. I would love to know more information such as why Diwali is celebrated and other cultural stuff. I hope you can write more of this. Thanks a lot!

    1. Thanks… I am glad that you liked the post on Diwali celebration. I will try to write more about other Indian festivals. Diwali is on 14th November and you might get to see more celebration videos on social media.

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