Traditionally a Hindu Festival, Diwali has now become so universal – partly thanks to the abundance of Indian restaurants we have in London – but also the colours, the music, the unity and utter joy that comes with almost 10 days of celebrations.
For us at home, the house is filled with light, decorations at the door of my parents’ house, my children joyfully (and indeed messily) decorate platters with coloured powders, grains and lentils to make rangolis. The day itself is filled with feasting, snacking, fireworks and often evenings into late nights spent entertained alongside plenty of laughter playing card games for good luck for the New Year.
Diwali follows the Hindu lunar calendar, which means the date changes every year. This year the actual day falls on October 31st. London’s Trafalgar Square lights up and attracts around 35,000 people every year with its lively music and dance displays and market featuring vegetarian food, arts and crafts, and henna. Food, like so many festivals, is such integral part of Diwali celebrations, and what better festival than Diwali is suited to restaurant going? London’s leading Indian restaurants are offering limited menus to indulge in celebratory menus. Here are some ways to celebrate Diwali this year (whether its in your culture or not.)
DINE HERE
Trishna, Marylebone’s Michelin-starred Indian restaurant celebrates Diwali with a special edition feasting menu inspired by India’s southwestern coast alongside wine pairings. Highlights include Half Lobster Ghee Roast, Coconut and Curry Leaf Scallops and Tandoori Lamb Chops, and vegetarian dishes such as Tikka Anardana and Jackfruit Pepper Fry. (Vegetarian and vegan tasting menus are also available.) Samyukta Nair’s Bombay Bustle will serve a traditional silver platter thali with regional dishes from guest chef Maunika Gowardhan’s book, Thali: A Joyful Celebration of Indian Home Cooking, alongside dishes from Executive Chef Surender, with dishes including Kadai Paneer with tomatoes and bell peppers, Malabar Lamb Curry infused with dry chilli, peppercorn, and coconut, and Rajwadi Gobhi featuring cauliflower, onion, tomato, and fresh coriander. The restaurant also presents the Diwali Bazaar, a table laden with a bespoke collection of mugs, trinket dishes, embroidered pouches, handmade ceramic diyas (candle holders) from artisans across India —perfect for gifting and sharing the Diwali spirit with family and friends. Vivek Singh’s Cinnamon Kitchen in the City and Battersea is set to host a special one-off evening with former MasterChef semi-finalist and cookery book author Nisha Parmar to mark the Diwali festivities this 24th October. The four-hands dinner comprises of six shared courses, featuring king prawn and seafood johl, butter chicken chops and a lamb dum biriyani. For an early Diwali celebration, this one promises to be a winner, but for anyone who misses out, the Cinnamon Kitchen outposts are serving a special Diwali menu until November 17. And one of our favourite chefs Rohit Ghai Chef is serving up the ”Diwali Expeditions” at Kutir, one of the classiest restaurants in Chelsea, an elegant townhouse where diners must ring a doorbell to gain admittance to a series of rooms decorated with Zoffany wallpaper and fragranced with rose-scented diffusers. And for London’s hottest new opening, head to Ambassadors Clubhouse. Between October 28-November 3, diners can try the Diwali Feast Menu, available alongside the A La Carte offerings. Plus, they’ll be celebrating with an AMBASSY Diwali Weekender event from November 1-2, with a line-up including Panjabi MC on October 1st
Panjabi Hit Squad on October 2nd.
GIFT THIS
Alongside the celebrations, presents are naturally a part of the festivities. There are no strict rules but I’d suggest avoiding black and white, opting for plenty of colour, like the celebration itself. Cutter & Squidge brings the perfect option for those with a sweet tooth, with their limited edition box of brownies, finished to look like traditional mithai (sweets). Available in boxes of 12 or 24, the colourful bakes come in a celebration box, ready for gifting (£21.99/£53.99). Being the festival of lights, candles are always a great option. And who doesn’t love a gift from Diptyque? The ROSES large candle is a particular favourite (on my wish list certainly), smelling quite literally like a bouquet of fresh flowers presented in a porcelain vessel, stamped with the oval of the Maison. Go for gold with beauty from Chantecaille with their 24K Gold Cream Intense along with the Gold Vitamin C 24K Gold Serum Intense and 24K Gold Energising Eye Cream. Short of giving a gold coin, this is a very luxurious usable gift for someone you love. And for home entertainers and those that love to cook, cookware brand Our Place and New York Times bestselling cookbook author Radhi Devlukia-Shetty have teamed up for a limited edition Diwali cookware set in the colour clay, inspired by the traditional clay pots, matkas, and handis of South Asia. The knobs on the limited-edition Always Pan (£130) and Perfect Pot (£140) are adorned with an etching of a saffron, the spice that symbolises richness of mind and body. Plus, each set includes a Beechwood Spoon and Spatula marked to commemorate the exclusive collaboration.
CELEBRATE HERE
Parts of London and the UK will light up on Diwali and subsequent New Year’s Day with plenty of fireworks. Take the family to celebrate Diwali at Marble Hill on Saturday 26 October between 2 and 8pm where you can can take part in a dance workshop or meet giant puppets at Marble Hill, and finish the day with a lantern parade to the Thames. The Royal Observatory Greenwich is putting on a special event suitable for ages seven and over to explore how the Hindu calendar draws on the skies to work out dates like Diwali each year. Find out how the sun and moon determine the religion’s calendar while honouring the power of astrology and Hinduism. The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Hindu Temple) in Neasden, London is well worth a visit on any day of the year. On Diwali specifically, it hosts the largest Diwali and Hindu New Year celebrations in the country. Open to one and all, the celebrations are an opportunity for the whole family to enjoy the traditions, colours and rich culture of the Hindu faith, with fireworks taking place on 31st October.
DRESS UP
Rent a very special outfit this Diwali. Trusted platform ByRotation has endless options on offer from Indo-Western designs to more traditional lenghas and plenty of accessories to match. Or invest in your own piece from Circular Threads, the first of its kind destination for preloved South Asian fashion. And if you fancy a saunder passed Westbourne Grove onto Notting Hill’s Ledbury Road, take a look atAashni + Co, bringing the UK the best South Asian designers across haute couture, ready-to-wear, jewellery and accessories. Set over three floors, pick up anything from Anamika Khanna to Gaurav Gupta to Sabyasachi, brands and designs you’ll fall in love with over and over again.
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