Diwali, the festival of lights, can very easily be called Diwali, the festival of sweets. For once, you can gorge on delicious traditional Indian foods and sweets without feeling guilty. After all, Diwali without sweets is almost like Christmas without snow or Easter without the bunny. So, if you have a sweet tooth, you will have a ball visiting Indian households around Diwali. And the best part is that people start serving and distributing sweets almost a week before the festival and carry on with the Diwali hangover well after the day has come and gone.
In India, it's boom time for sweet shop owners (halwais) who have sweet (mithai) boxes lined up by the hundreds. These boxes also make for excellent Diwali gifts. Many households, however, make these mithais at home. Milk-based sweets like kheer, phirni, kulfi and barfis are extremely popular. These are different forms of cooked and sweetened milk embellished with nuts and served chilled either in liquid or frozen form.
Laddus are delightful, sweet yellow balls associated with celebrations of all kinds. These round delights can be made of ground wheat flour or gram flour. Some laddus have sesame seeds; others include saffron. Whatever the ingredients, the laddu is always yummy. Pop a whole one in your mouth, and you'll be one satisfied soul.
Gulab Jamuns, which are deep-fried balls made of milk solids dipped in sugary syrup, are perhaps one of the most popular Indian sweets. Pretzel-shaped jalebieven looks festive: It's a bright orange swiggle made of flour, deep-fried and soaked in sweet syrup.
Dry fruits come a close second to sweets. All kinds of dry fruit is eaten and gifted during Diwali. Hampers containing an assortment of dry fruit are also popular Diwali gifts. Pistachios, almonds, walnuts, raisins, dried apricots and cashews top the list. If you get fed up of sweets, these are great for a change of taste.
Snacks and munchies are always available for guests. Indian snacks are known to be delicious, crispy, spicy, full of flavor and very addictive. Munch on these, and you will be hooked.
As far as the main course goes, most Indian households cook and serve vegetarian food on this auspicious holiday. Since the country is so vast, the kind of food preparations depend on which part of India you come from. Rice, rotis, lentils, pulao (rice), vegetables and curries are usually always made. And, after a meal, it's time for sweets again.
 | Traditions vary based on religion and region, but common elements of Diwali include the lighting of lamps, firework displays and sumptuous feasts. |
 | The Diwali Festival of Lights is a significant five-day holiday in India and Nepal. It has become a major holiday in many parts of the world where Indians and those of South East Asian descent have settled. |
 | During Diwali, desserts and candies are kept on hand and served all day long when expected or unexpected guests call. Indian sweets finish a meal and are also served as morning or afternoon snacks. |
What is Diwali food? It is traditional Indian food made and eaten during Diwali. The food is known for both sweet and savory flavors. |
This week the whole of India will be celebrating Diwali popularly known as festival of lights. It is one of the most important festivals of the Hindus. The lights are meant to brighten the engulfing darkness and symbolise the triumph of good over evil. During the five days of Diwali celebration the mood is marked by feeling of joy and happiness. |
