Festival Food in India: Must-Try Dishes from Diwali to Holi and Beyond
With a rich history rooted deep in ancient mythology, India is home to some of the most epic festivals and carnivals that you can imagine.
Recurring every year, each festival has an allegory to tell, which is often described through acts and rituals and celebrated by cooking/eating food relevant to the particular occasion.
As a great way of getting together and sharing the good times, there are tons of special festival foods in India that you can find depending on the celebration.
From world-famous sweets, snacks, and desserts to meals of every flavor for every tongue, there is something for every foodie in this vast land of festive occasions.
Without further ado, let us explore some of the most tempting foods associated with some of the most celebrated festivals in India, from Diwali to Holi and beyond.
Also Read – The Ultimate List of Food Items
1. Diwali: The Festival of Lights
Being just around the corner, the biggest festival in India, especially among the Hindus and Sikhs, Diwali or Deepavali is celebrated each year with utmost fervor and enthusiasm.
As the festival of lights, it is often defined by decorating homes, buildings, streets, and cities with glaring lights, candles, and diyas (traditional clay lamps), where friends and families get together to burst crackers as a tribute to Lord Ram.
Before that, a proper prayer or worshipping of the Goddess Laxmi (the deity associated with wealth and money) is carried out where special food items and fruits are offered that are prepared or ordered beforehand.
Once the pooja (prayer) is over, the attendees enjoy their favorite food items from the plethora of options especially made/arranged for the festival.
Some of the most popular traditional Diwali dishes include:
- Kaju Katli– a smooth cashew-based sweet.
- Gulab Jamun– fried dough balls soaked in sugar syrup.
- Chiwda– a crispy and savory snack.
- Sooji halwa– a sweet, hot, and delicious pudding made of flour, sugar, and ghee (butter).
- Rice kheer– Boiled rice and dry fruits in sweet milk.
- Kalakand– pure milk cake.
Along with these key items, a combination of other dishes like poori, chole, and shahi paneer adds joy to the night which can go on for days depending on the regional tradition.
Thanks to these mouth-watering flavors, the Festival of Lights becomes a festival of flavors in no time.Â
Also Read – Different Food Items of Different States in India
2. Makar Sankranti: A Harvest Celebration
Dedicated to the sun god âSurya,â Makar Sankranti is yet another famous Hindu festival that is celebrated each year in January, when the sun enters the Northern Hemisphere and declares the end of winter.
As an expression of gratitude or Thanksgiving to Mother Earth, it is often admired in a number of ways including bathing in lakes and rivers, taking part in fishing events, flying kites, and exchanging gifts and sweets with loved ones.
Speaking of which, feasting is an innate part of Makar Sankranti.
Starting with the traditional combination of green gram, rice, and jaggery, some of the famous foods eaten during Makar Sankranti are:
- Pongal– a South Indian dish made of milk, jaggery, nuts, and lentils.
- Chikki– a crunchy and sugary snack made of peanuts and jaggery.
- Til Pitha/Tilgul– a traditional dish made with rice flour, sesame seeds, jaggery, and coconut.
- Urad Dal Khichdi– a rice meal made with lentils often believed to bring joy and prosperity.
Puran Poli– sweet flatbread.
3. Holi: The Festival of Colours
The colorful festival of Holi is a major Indian festival that celebrates love and the season of spring when vegetation starts to appear.
Dedicated to the bond between Hindu deities Radha and Krishna, it signifies the victory of good over evil and of a superior over an immoral.
Celebrated by throwing colors (watered and powdered) on each other, Holi is also defined by several traditional dishes that are specific to the festival. These include but are not limited to:
- Gujiya– a sweet dumpling filled with khoya and dry fruits.
- Thandai– a cold beverage based on milk and several herbs and spices including weed in some places.
- Malpua– sweet, crispy, and juicy pancakes.
- Dahi Bhalla– spicy veggie balls served in yogurt.
4. Janmashtami: Celebrating the Birth of Lord Krishna
Janmashtami or Krishna Janmashtami is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna who is often described as the supreme God and the source of all avatars.
Falling on the eighth day of the Hindu month of Bhadrava which is usually in August or September, the festival involves a special pooja or prayer that mimics the events of Lord Krishnaâs birth over 5000 years ago.
After the grand ceremony, sweets and baked goods often based on milk recipes that reflect the love of Lord Krishna for butter and dairy are eaten and exchanged while songs of devotion continue to play in the background.
Some of the signature dishes of Janmashtami that are enjoyed around the nation include:
- Makhan Mishri– a mix of butter and sugar diamonds.
- Panchamrit– a mixture of milk, honey, yogurt, ghee, and sugar.
- Kesar Shrikhand– a traditional dessert made with Kesar (Saffron), elaichi (Cardamom), dahi (yogurt), milkmaid, and a blend of dried fruits.
- Murukku– a savory and crunchy snack made with rice flour, urad dal flour, and basic spices like red chili powder, hing, and sesame seeds.
5. Raksha Bandhan: A Celebration of Sibling Bonds
Symbolising the bond of love, care, and respect between a brother and sister, Raksha Bandhan is a key festival that takes place in Indian homes every year.
As a nationwide ceremony, it is celebrated by women tying special wrist bands called ârakhiâ on their brothersâ wrists as a sign of their bond accompanied by feeding each other a bite of traditional sweets like gulab jamun, ragi laddoo, and the date and nut barfi.
Other traditional dishes eaten during Raksha Bandhan may include:
- Ghevar– honeycomb-like sweet made with flour and soaked in syrup.
- Vermicelli Kheer– a sweet pudding made with milk and vermicelli.
- Malpua– sweet and juicy pancakes.
6. Ganesh Chaturthi: Welcoming Lord Ganesha
Dedicated to the birth of the Hindu deity Lord Ganesh, Ganesh Chaturthi symbolises new beginnings and the removal of any obstacles.
As a tribute to the God of wisdom and intelligence, it is celebrated by installing an idol of Lord Ganesh in homes, offices, and public places and is often accompanied by food items such as:
- Modak– a traditional sweet dumpling filled with coconut and jaggery.
- Puran Poli– a sweet flatbread.
- Karanji/ Gujiya– a deep-fried pastry shell filled with a sweet coconut and jaggery.
And a variety of laddoos made of rava, besan, coconut, etc.
7. Navratri: Nine Days of Fasting and Feasting
The nine days of fasting and feasting aka Navratri have just been celebrated in India, which concluded on the tenth day or the day of Dussehra.
As a period of extreme devotion to goddess Durga, an avatar of the supreme Goddess, when many devotees go for nine days of fasting, the festival is quite different especially when it comes to eating and enjoying your favorite meals.
As such, some unique Navratri dishes that are meant for people on fasting include :
- Sabudana Khichdi– a dish of tapioca pearls cooked with peanuts.
- Kuttu Ki Puri– fluffy round puris made of buckwheat flour.
- Singhare Ka Halwa– water chestnut flour pudding.
Along with that, fruits and milk-based recipes like âkheerâ and halwa are also prepared and eaten during the auspicious nine days of Navratri.
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8. Durga Puja: A Celebration of Victory and Power
Durga puja is celebrated as a homage to the Hindu goddess Durga, especially her victory over the demon king Mahishasura who was the cause of much chaos.
As a tribute or the remembrance of the motherly power behind all life and creation, Durga puja is often accompanied by flavorsome dishes like:
- Mishti Doi– sweetened yogurt.
- Rasgulla– soft cheese balls served in sugar syrup.
- Luchi– a soft and puffy deep-fried bread.
With that, a variety of other dishes such as vegetable curry, biryani, kheer, pulao, and other delicacies are also eaten.
9. Karva Chauth: A Day of Fasting for Marital Blessings
Another festival that revolves around not eating or fasting is none other than Karva Chauth when married women go for a full day of fasting for the well-being and longevity of their husbands.
It is only when the moon appears in the late evening that they break their fast by drinking a glass of water and enjoying the fruits of their labor or the food they prepared during the day despite being on fast themselves.
That said, the key recipes of Karva Chauth that help women sustain and survive the day include:
- Sargi– a pre-dawn meal.
- Feni or Sevaiyan– a sweet vermicelli dish.
- & fruits and dried fruits.
After breaking the fast, women and their families enjoy a proper feast made of Aloo Puri and other vegetable curries.
Also Read -The Ultimate List of Fast Food Items
10. Christmas: A Festive Feast
The festival of Jesusâs birth, Christmas is widely celebrated in India, especially by the Christian community.
As a festival of feasts and fun, it is often celebrated by a combination of Western and local traditions that reflect seamlessly through its cuisine.
For instance,
- Plum cake– cake rich in dried fruits and spices.
- Rum cake– cake blended with rum to ward off cold and as a symbol of Jesus’s sacrifice.
Apart from that, homemade cookies in different flavors are made and exchanged with believers all around.
Also Read – Most Popular Indian Street Foods
Conclusion
As you can see, the country of herbs and spices, India, goes all in when it comes to celebrating their favorite festivals.
As an intricate part of any celebration, be it personal, religious, or community-specific, food plays a major role in Indian festivals, albeit, in different flavors depending on the region.
Nonetheless, some of the common festival food in India that occupies the kitchen of every home are traditional sweets such as laddoos, rasgullas, and barfis accompanied by a variety of other desserts.
In meals, Puri and special Paneer or Cheese-based gravies like Shahee Paneer and Mutter Paneer have a special place in our plates and stomachs until there is no room for any air.
Along with that, side snacks such as halwa and dairy-based dishes like kheer and dahi-bhalla continue to complement the festival food in India since times unknown.
As a full-scale restaurant, BitesBee offers a wide range of festival food in the tri-city of Chandigarh including most of the items mentioned in the post.
To save time and focus on other things such as shopping and celebration, you can always contact us to order your favorite food both on the days of a festival or otherwise.
To see what we are cooking, check out our comprehensive menu.
FAQs
Ans:Â While there is a plethora of Diwali-specific food items, some of the most popular and traditional must-haves include Kaju Katli, Gulab Jamun, Dahi Bhalla, Chiwda, and Shahi Panner with Puri and Kheer.
Ans:Â As the festival of colors, Holi is often celebrated by eating a wide variety of food items that add colors to the platters. Some of the most popular are Gujiya, Thandai, Dahi Bhalla, and Malpua.
Ans:Â Dedicated to Lord Ganeshâs birth, Ganesh Chaturthi features traditional food items like Modak, Gujiya, Puran Poli, and laddoos in various flavors and colors.
Ans:Â As an International fest, India abides by the tradition of eating plum cakes and rum cakes during Christmas while enjoying their favorite meals, drinks, and snacks.
Ans:Â Sargi or Sargi thali is a special meal or food that is eaten by married ladies on the day of Karva Chauth before sunrise and is usually prepared by their mother-in-law while they go on a full day of fasting for the well-being and longevity of their husbands.
As such, Sargi includes fast-friendly ingredients such as fruits, dry fruits, sweets, paratha, kheer, and the likes.
