Photo courtesy of Karizma

GuidesWashington D.C.

Where to Celebrate Diwali, The Festival of Lights, in D.C.

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Of all the national holidays in India, Diwali is one of the most fun and celebratory.

In India, the holiday spans five full days in either October or November (the actual date depends on the lunar calendar!) and is filled with parties, parades, performances, and festivals. People light their homes with candles and lanterns, fireworks are lit throughout the week, and of course, a bevy of special dishes and drinks is prepared at festivities, in peoples’ homes, and at restaurants.

Known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali is commemorated by Indian communities all over the world to honor new beginnings: light replacing darkness, good overcoming evil, and the start of a new year of building prosperity.

Chefs and home cooks alike pull out all the stops to craft delicious food for Diwali, and D.C. is famously blessed with a plethora of stellar Indian restaurants so you can join in the revelry. Many are offering special dishes for Diwali, like the spicy green pea kachori at Bindaas, and others have items on their regular menus that are often eaten during the holiday season, such as the delectable samosas at Pappe and the syrupy and delicious gulab jamun at Rasika. Sample all the savory dishes, desserts, and drinks on this list to celebrate Diwali to the fullest.

Be it savory, spicy, sweet, or any combination of those, everything is decadent and there’s something for everyone. Here’s where to go, and what to eat.