What should a Diwali party menu include?
A Diwali party menu needs one or two starters, one or two main dishes, a rice dish, a bread and one or two sweets. A longer menu is not a better party: guests fill up on starters and sweets, so a short menu cooked well beats ten dishes cooked in a rush.
Include at least one rich vegetarian main, such as shahi paneer, and one plainer one, such as dal, so older guests and children both have something to eat.
| Course | How many | Ideas |
|---|---|---|
| Starters | 1 or 2 | Samosa, paneer tikka, dahi bhalla, papdi chaat |
| Mains | 1 or 2 | Shahi paneer, dal makhani, chana masala, mixed vegetable |
| Rice | 1 | Jeera rice or veg biryani |
| Bread | 1 | Naan, roti or puri |
| Sweets | 1 or 2 | Gulab jamun, kaju katli, jalebi, halwa, gujiya |
Sources Archana's Kitchen: a 4-course Diwali party menu, accessed
Which starters and snacks work best for a Diwali party?
Pick starters that taste fine warm or at room temperature, because they sit out while people arrive. Samosa, pakora, paneer tikka and dahi bhalla all hold well, and papdi chaat and bhel keep a crowd busy while the mains are heated.
Put a bowl of dry snacks such as namkeen mix, namak pare or besan sev on every table so nobody queues at the counter.
- Hot: samosa, kachori, pakora, paneer tikka
- Cool: dahi bhalla, papdi chaat, bhel
- Dry, on the table: chivda or namkeen mix, namak pare, besan sev
Sources Archana's Kitchen: a 4-course Diwali party menu, accessed
What mains and breads suit a Diwali dinner?
A North Indian Diwali dinner usually pairs a creamy paneer dish with dal makhani, a rice dish and naan or roti. Shahi paneer, dal makhani, chana masala, mixed vegetable curry and veg biryani are the dishes most Diwali menu guides list.
Our dish pages give planning quantities for 50 to 500 guests, for example dal makhani and shahi paneer. For a smaller party, the small party catering page is the place to start.
Sources Archana's Kitchen: a 4-course Diwali party menu, accessed
Which sweets should you serve at a Diwali party?
Serve two sweets that contrast: one soft and syrupy, such as gulab jamun, and one dry and rich, such as kaju katli. Jalebi, halwa and gujiya are the other classic choices.
Sweets also decide how far ahead you can order. Some keep for days and some are best on the day they are made, so match the sweet to the day of the party.
| Sweet | Pieces per kg | Keeps (days) |
|---|---|---|
| [Kaju katli](/bulk-sweets/kaju-katli/) | 45–50 | 7 |
| [Gulab jamun](/bulk-sweets/gulab-jamun/) | 20–25 | 3 |
| [Motichoor ladoo](/bulk-sweets/motichoor-ladoo/) | 20–24 | 4 |
When is Diwali 2026, and when should you book catering?
Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) is on Sunday 8 November 2026. Dhanteras is 6 November, Govardhan Puja 10 November and Bhai Dooj 11 November, so office parties often land in the days before or after.
Ask for catering as soon as you know the date and the guest count, since festival weeks fill up. The food quantity calculator shows how much of each dish a given number of guests eats, and sweets for gifting are on the Diwali sweet boxes page.
Sources Drik Panchang: festivals in Kartika 2026, accessed
Questions families ask
How many dishes should a Diwali party menu have?
Seven or eight items is plenty: 1 or 2 starters, 1 or 2 mains, a rice dish, a bread and 1 or 2 sweets. More dishes mostly means more waste.
What is a good Diwali menu for an office party?
Samosa and paneer tikka to start, shahi paneer or dal makhani with jeera rice and naan, and gulab jamun or kaju katli to finish. Keep it vegetarian so everyone can eat.
What snacks can I serve with drinks at a Diwali party?
Namkeen mix, namak pare, besan sev, samosa and pakora work well, as they can sit out and still taste fine.
Which Diwali sweets keep longest?
Dry sweets such as besan ladoo and kaju katli keep longer than syrupy ones such as rasgulla or fresh jalebi. The bulk sweets page lists how long each one keeps.
Can I order a Diwali party meal for 20 people?
Yes, small parties are what the small party catering page is for. Send the date, the number of guests and the dishes you like.
Small party catering Diwali sweet boxes Corporate catering Food quantity calculator
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