Celebrating Abundance at Diwali

Diwali, with its flickering lamps and intricate rangoli, is marked by an opulence of food. The dining table is always the heart of Diwali celebrations, which this year falls on 29 October to 3 November. Each dish is imbued with meaning — a gesture of goodwill, a celebration of abundance, and an expression of generosity to family and friends.

To celebrate Diwali with flair, book a table at Yantra or Ammakase for delectable Indian cuisine, or pre-order sweets for gifting, and earn Comocredits at the rate of your tier.

Yantra presents a selection of recipes unearthed from grandmothers’ kitchens and chefs of royal households, along with premium Diwali sweets available as gifts or to complete a home feast. Ammakase features a bespoke dining experience that blends traditional recipes from coastal Indian and Sri Lankan states with innovative culinary techniques from around the globe.

Dishes served during Diwali are shaped by regional customs, family recipes and traditions that date back centuries. The consumption of rich, sweet foods during Diwali can be traced to the harvest season, when new crops were first tasted as offerings to deities.

Fragrant biryani, layered with aromatic spices like cardamom, cinnamon and saffron, is a popular centrepiece in many households. This dish, with its origins in Mughal cuisine, symbolises the cultural synthesis that has occurred throughout Indian history. The slow-cooking process of biryani, often taking hours to prepare, reflects the care and attention given to festival meals.

Creamy dal makhani, simmered with butter and cream, fills dining rooms with an inviting aroma that embodies the warmth of the festival. This dish, originating from the Punjab region, gained popularity in the 20th century and has since become a staple of North Indian cuisine. Its rich protein content from black lentils and red kidney beans makes it a nutritious counterpart to the often sweet-heavy Diwali menu.

In northern India, deep-fried treats like samosas and kachoris share the table with rice-based sweets such as kheer. In the south, savoury snacks like murukku are offered alongside jaggery-based desserts. These carefully spiced dishes carry forward centuries-old culinary traditions integral to the holiday.

The exchange of sweets, or mithai, is a cherished Diwali custom. Barfi, with its fudge-like consistency made from condensed milk, sugar, and various nuts or fruits, is said to represent the building blocks of a prosperous future. Spherical ladoos, crafted from flour, sugar, and ghee, are believed to bring good fortune. The preparation of these sweets often brings families together in the kitchen, creating memories as sweet as the treats themselves, while strengthening family bonds and passing down culinary heritage.

Book a table at Ammakase or Yantra today. If you're looking for Diwali sweets for gifting, Yantra has a selection of sweets and ammākase has a festive gift box you can order. All of these earn you Comocredits at the rate of your tier.

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