Happy Diwali

This year Diwali falls on October 17th – which is conveniently on a Saturday!

Diwali is often referred to as the “Festival of Lights” and is a celebration of joy and happiness. Diwali signifies the victory of good versus evil. Hindus celebrate Diwali throughout the world with great enthusiasm.

There are many traditions that are followed when celebrating Diwali. Preparations for Diwali often include cleaning your home and opening the windows to welcome the Goddess of Wealth, Lakshmi, into your home. Candles and lamps are lit as a greeting to Goddess Lakshmi, hence the name “Festival of Lights”. Gifts are exchanged and festive meals are prepared. Lively fireworks, and games of cards are enjoyed to celebrate Diwali!

This year I am especially excited for Diwali because I have a new granddaughter and this is her first Diwali.

I have been busy preparing some delicious desserts. The sweet smell of cardamom and saffron has infused the whole house! Gujias are typically prepared as a main sweet snack for Diwali. However, this year, I have decided to go a different route and prepare a variety of sweets such as coconut burfi, boondi ka ladoo, gulab jamun and shakkar para.

In celebration of Diwali, my family has helped decorating the house including the Christmas lights. I am hoping Mansi (my Granddaughter) will be able to help me to decorate the front entrance of the house with rangoli.

We will be kicking off the Diwali festivities with a family dinner at my house the day before actual Diwali. This celebration is called “Choti Diwali”. I will be preparing a traditional dinner for my family. The menu is puris filled with urad dal, spicy squash, Bhindi, matar paneer, dahi vada, and cumin rice. For dessert we will have gulab jamun and bondi ka ladoo.

 After dinner, keeping in tradition with Diwali celebrations, we will be playing cards. I plan to serve spicy peanuts, burfi and of course chai. My husband is an expert at preparing chai so he will take on that task!

Diwali day we will have family get together our son’s home. I will post photographs of our celebrations soon!

I hope you all have a very Happy Diwali!


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15 thoughts on “Happy Diwali

  1. hello manjula aunty…
    ur cookin has been a tremendous help n inspiration to me…any doubts wid any recipe the first thing i do is refer ur website…thank u aunty for sharing such wonderful recipes..
    wid warm regards…

    priya

  2. I visited your blog for the first time, you make cooking look simple. I have tried many of your recipes they always work well. I like the way you present them, your voice is very soothing.
    I appreciate your sharing your talents with us.

    Warm regards.

    1. hi
      manjula aunty
      wish u a very happy dewali.hats off to your tremendous talent and making indian treats in western world.i have learned a lot.i enjoyed visiting your kitchen
      i

  3. Dearest Manjula,

    I just wanted to thank you for all the best recipes that you have been posting.. I got married to an Indian family and had no clue how to make an Indian food, but with your help I am now a very good cook ..

    THanks a lot and GOD Bless you …. You are the best …

  4. Happy Diwali
    aunty Jee
    waiting to see the pics soon hopefully this time you can sneak in your husband too in the pictures. Speaking of whom how about a video recipe of him preparing Chai. You can stay behind the camera and hope he can share his secret of making Chai with all. What say Aunty….
    Lots of good wishes

  5. Dear Manjula
    Happy Diwali to you and all your family and friends.
    I want to thank you for all the recipes you teach to the world full of love and dedication. I am a lover of India and all of its culture and people, including the wonderful food.
    I am from Venezuela ,South America, but I have been to India many times and I know it very well from north to south to east and west….

    yours sincerely

    Jorge

  6. Dear Manjula,
    Mubarak Hö, Mubarak Hö, for Diwali Celebration… and
    to all members of your family and to all of those who receive your news.
    May your grand-daughter receive protection from the Supreme Father for good.
    with compliments,
    cecilia from Brazil

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