One Plate Several States: Diwali Delicacies from Across India

The festivities of Diwali are incomplete without scrumptious food. As the festival is celebrated in different ways in different regions, each region boasts its own unique culinary traditions, with a variety of snacks that are prepared specially for the occasion. From crispy, savoury bites to indulgent sweets, these delicacies reflect the rich diversity of Indian cuisine. Every state has its own distinct flavours and ingredients, contributing to a vibrant spread of festive treats. Here’s a look at some of the most popular Diwali snacks prepared in different states of India. 

Karanji, Besan Laddoo - Maharashtra 

Various snacks are prepared in Maharashtra during the Diwali season and Chakli, Karanji and Besan Laddo are a few of them. Chakli is a crispy, spiral-shaped savoury snack made from rice flour and a blend of spices, Karanji also known as Gujiya in North India is a crispy, deep-fried snack filled with a sweet mixture of coconut, sugar, cardamom, and sometimes dry fruits. Besan Laddoo is a sweet made from roasted gram flour (besan), ghee, sugar, and cardamom. 

Mathiya, Ghugra, Mohanthal - Gujarat

A combination of savoury and sweet is prepared in the adjacent state as well. Mathiya is a thin, spiced crisp made from gram flour and urad dal, Ghughra is similar to Karanji, but filled with sweetened coconut or Mawa and Mohanthal is a rich, dense sweet made from gram flour (besan), sugar, and ghee.

Mathri, Ghevar, Gujiya - Rajasthan

Mathri is a crispy, flaky cracker flavoured with fenugreek and spice, Ghevar is a disc-shaped sweet with a honeycomb-like texture, made from ghee, maida, and sugar syrup and last but not least Gujiya which is a sweet dish made with semolina or flour stuffed with sweetened khoya and dried nuts is everyone's favourite prepared in Rajasthan. 

Namak Pare, Pinni -  Punjab

Punjab is famous for making Namak Pare, a crunchy, savoury fried snack made from seasoned dough and Pinni, a sweet made from whole wheat flour, ghee, jaggery, and dry fruits.

Thekua, Anarsa - Bihar

Thekua is a fried sweet made from whole wheat flour, jaggery, and coconut, often shaped like a biscuit. Along with that Anarsa, a sweet rice flour disc fried and coated in sesame seeds or poppy seeds is also prepared in households. 

Murukku, Adirasam, Thenkuzhal - Tamil Nadu

Murukku is a crunchy, spiral snack similar to Chakli prepared in Maharashtra. It is made from rice flour and urad dal. Adirasam is another snack made with deep-fried rice flour and jaggery cakes, similar to a doughnut. Thenkuzhal is a milder version of murukku made from rice and urad dal flour.

Nippattu, Mysore Pak, Kodbale - Karnataka

Karnataka is also known for a variety of snacks, such as Nippattu, crispy rice flour crackers spiced with green chilies, sesame seeds, and peanuts; the famous Mysore Pak, a rich, melt-in-your-mouth sweet made from gram flour, ghee, and sugar; and Kodbale, ring-shaped crunchy snacks made from rice flour, lentils, and spices.

Ariselu, Pala Munjalu - Andhra Pradesh

Ariselu is a traditional Indian sweet made from rice flour, jaggery, and ghee. It's a popular part of celebrations in Andhra Pradesh. Pala Munjalu is another dish that is made with deep-fried rice flour balls with sweet jaggery filling.

Nimki, Choddo Shaak, Kucho Nimki - West Bengal

Nimki is a savoury, diamond-shaped snack made from maida and fried until crisp. Bengali households prepare a savoury dish called Choddo Shaak on the day before Kali Puja or Diwali which is known as Bhoot Chaturdashi. The dish is prepared using 14 green leafy vegetables. It is believed that this dish wards off evil during the festive season. Kucho Nimki, a smaller, bite-sized version of Nimki that is crisp and flaky, are all served in Bengal during Diwali.

Achappam, Kuzhalappam, Unniyappam - Kerala

Achappam is a rose-shaped, crispy snack made from rice flour and coconut milk, Kuzhalappam is a tube-shaped rice flour snack, crispy and mildly spiced and Unniyappam is a small, sweet fritter made from rice, jaggery, and banana found in almost every household of Kerala.

Kakara Pitha, Manda Pith - Odisha

Kakara Pitha is a sweet fried dumpling made from wheat or rice flour and filled with jaggery and coconut and Manda Pitha is a steamed rice flour dumplings stuffed with coconut and jaggery.

Babroo - Himachal Pradesh

This pahadi state too specializes in amazing delicacies. One of the most popular Diwali delicacies is Babroo. It is made with dough and sugar, the dish is ideal for the mountain town.