Diwali Treats: Unveiling India’s Diverse Festive Flavors

Diwali, or Deepavali, marks a time of joy, warmth, and hope. It is celebrated as a reminder of the victory of light over darkness and good over evil, as Lord Ram returned to his home after his victory over Ravana. The streets are lit with lamps, houses are decorated with flowers, diyas, lights, and rangolis. Kids gather and burst firecrackers, sweets are distributed, and gifts are exchanged as families come together to celebrate. Diwali fills the heart with love and gratitude; the ambience lights up; there is positive energy all around. It is one of the important festivals of our culture and is celebrated across the country.

In India, a celebration is synonymous with special delicacies, several dishes are cooked during any major festivities. India’s regional diversity is also visible in the wide variety of dishes that are cooked during such festivities. Let us embark on a journey of exploring various dishes prepared during the festival of Diwali in different parts of our nation, with this blog.

Regional Dishes Enjoyed During Diwali

Indian culture signifies sharing of food, this has led to a lot of snack and sweets being gifted in gift hampers during the festive season Let us look through some of the delicious delicacies prepared and gifted during the festive season.

North India:

North India has a rich culinary background. Food is a key part of all our celebrations.

Snacks like shakkarpara, namakpara, dahi papdi chaat, dishes like paneer tikka, kebabs, and puri aloo and sweets like gulab jamun, soan papdi, rasgulla, jalebi, rasmalai and kaju katli shared and savoured during the festival of Diwali. Most of these snacks have a long shelf life, and are used in gift packs as well.

Let us discuss some famous North Indian delicacies that are delicious and make a perfect addition to a Diwali gift pack.

Shakkarpara

Shakkarpara is a perfect Diwali snack. It is sweet, usually diamond-shaped, made with fried flour, and coated with crystallized sugar. It is a crunchy snack that is typically eaten in the North Indian states but is also enjoyed in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and West Bengal. It is known by different names in different regions: Shankarapali (Karnataka, Maharashtra) and Shakerpara in West Bengal. Shakkarpara is also a known snack in Fiji, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Shakkarpara is made using all-purpose flour or wheat flour, ghee, and sugar. Healthier versions may use jaggery instead of sugar. Owing to the long shelf life of shakkarpara, it makes a perfect gift item and can be used in many Diwali gift hampers.

Namakpara

Namakpara is a crispy, spiced savory snack. It is also diamond-shaped and is perfect for Diwali gatherings. Its crunchy texture is loved by all. It can be easily prepared at home.

Namakpara is made using all-purpose flour, wheat flour, or a mixture of both, hing, ajwain, black pepper, salt, and ghee. This fried crunchy snack can be stored for a long time and makes a perfect addition to the Diwali gift pack.

Soan Papdi

Soan papdi is one of the most widely exchanged sweet during Indian festivities and celebrations. It is known for its unique and light, flaky texture and sweet taste. It is made using gram flour, all-purpose flour, ghee, pistachios, almonds, and sugar.

Soan papdi has evolved over the years into multiple variations over time. These include rose soan papdi, chocolate chip soan papdi, coconut soan papdi, kesar soan papdi, and many others. It is a sweet that may be served as a snack or as a dessert and has a long shelf life. This makes it a perfect sweet to gift in a Diwali hamper or a gift pack. Surya Masale also offers a wide range of varieties of soan papdi.

South India

The South Indian region has a wide variety of delicious snacks and desserts. Festivities are celebrated with delicacies prepared using local ingredients and seasonal fresh produce. Some popular South Indian snacks include Murukku, Thattu Vadai, Sweet Paniyaram, and Mysore Pak. Most of these delicacies are prepared fresh at home but are available at the stores as well.

Let us discuss the most widely known Diwali snacks from the southern region: Murukku and Mysore Pak.

Murukku

Murukku is a famous South Indian snack that is enjoyed during many festivities. The name “ Murukku” is derived from a Tamil word meaning ‘twisted.’ It is savoured in many southern states, including Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka. Variations of this dish are prepared in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Odisha.

Murukku is made using rice, lentil ( urad dal) flour, and many South Indian spices. These days, many variations of murukku are also available; some of these are butter murukku, corn murukku, multi-millet murukku, and ribbon murukku. It makes a good gifting item owing to its quick preparation and long shelf life, and, can be added to Diwali gift hamper.

You can make murukku at home or simply buy from the store. Surya Masale offers a wide range of murukku, you can order them online from our website.

Mysore Pak

Mysore Pak is a well-known Indian treat; it is soft, nutty, and very buttery. As the name suggests, it originates from the city of Mysore, in Karnataka. Mysore Pak is prepared using gram flour, ghee, and sugar. Ghee makes it very soft and dense. Mysore Pak can be stored in a cool, dry place for a month. It is a very common sweet exchanged during the Diwali festivities.

You can purchase Mysore Pak from any nearby sweet shop. It is also available on the Surya Masale online store.

West India

The Diwali celebrations of the western Indian states are very colorful. There are multicolored lanterns, lights, and beautiful flowers. The streets are lit up and full of cheer. Families come together to celebrate over food and crackers. Dishes like Dhokla, Fafda, Khandvi, and Jalebi are served.

Let us discuss the famous dhokla and jalebi-fafda from the vibrant state of Gujarat.

Dhokla

Dhokla is a soft and fluffy, savory sponge cake, made using gram flour. It makes a great snack and can be enjoyed at any time of the day. It is an easy-to-prepare dish made with leavened gram flour batter, which is steamed and tempered with mustard seeds, curry leaves, and chili. Eno or any fruit salt can be used for leavening the batter. It is a healthy vegan snack that is very light. Dhokla is enjoyed with a side of chili,and tamarind and mint chutneys.

Jalebi- fafda

Jalebi-fafda is a cherished delight from Gujarat. The crispy texture of fafda and the sweet indulgence of jalebi make the perfect combination.

Fafda is a fried snack made using gram flour and basic household spices. Jalebi is a sweet made using fermented all-purpose flour and gram flour batter, which is fried and soaked in flavorful sugar syrup.

The duo of jalebi-fafda is a popular snack for Diwali and Dussehra gatherings.

Of these popular snacks, fafda is a good addition to a Diwali gift combo. Dhokla and jalebi are perishable items; they can however be exchanged as gifts as well or served during celebrations.

East India

In the east of India, Diwali is celebrated with Kali Puja. People offer prayers to Goddess Kali. There is bursting of crackers, lighting of lamps, and setting up of huge pandals for prayers. Food is a huge part of these celebrations. Rasgulla and Sandesh are popular Bengali sweets and are enjoyed during all major festivals including Diwali.

Rasgulla

Rasgulla is a beloved Indian dessert. It is a spongy sweet made using Indian cottage cheese and semolina flour. It is a Bengali dessert, well known across borders for its sweet flavor of cardamom. Rasgullas are also one of the most exchanged sweets during any Indian festival. They are available in tin packs, which have a long shelf life. This makes them highly efficient in Diwali gift hampers.

Sandesh

Sandesh is another popular dish from Bengal. It is a milk-based sweet made with Indian cottage cheese. It is available in many variations, including chocolate Sandesh, dry fruits Sandesh, bhapa (steamed) Sandesh, and dates Sandesh. It is also one of the most exchanged sweets during the festival of Diwali in the eastern states of India.

Wrapping Up:

Snacks and sweets vary widely across different regions of our country, each offering its own unique delicacies. Treats like shakarpara, namakpara, soan papdi, murukku, mysore pak, fafda, and rasgulla are perfect examples of the rich regional diversity. These delights. These delicacies make excellent gifts, particulalry during Diwali, and are often included in festive gift hampers. They also add a special touch to family gatherings and parties, where they are savored with affection and joy.

Surya Masale has a wide range of snacks, sweets, and gift combos available on their website, visit the online store to place your Diwali orders!

Wishing you a very Happy Diwali!