Small clay diyas burning with tall flames in loose rows along the bottom of a dark frame, with soft amber and violet bokeh lights and wisps of smoke above.

शुभ दीपावली · Deepavali 2026

Diwaliat the Mehta House

Lakshmi puja, a long table of mithai and diyas on every sill

Anjali & Rohan Mehta invite you to a family Diwali dinner: pure vegetarian, children very welcome.

✉️ RSVP by 29 October

The first diya is lit in

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Photo: Trishik Bose / Pexels

8 Nov

WhenSunday 8 NovemberDiwali night, 2026

6:30

Time6:30 to 10:30 pmPuja begins at 7:15 sharp

📍

Where301 Jasmine RowThe Mehta residence. Street parking is free after 6 pm

👘

Dress codeFestive Indian or smartSilks, kurtas, saris, jewel tones

Hanging strands of orange marigolds with white jasmine, ending in white tassels and marigold clusters, under a dark wooden roof against a softly blurred green-grey background.

🪷 A note from the hosts

Come hungry, come bright, bring a diya

Namaste, dear friends and family. Every year our little house on Jasmine Row fills up a bit more than it should, and every year we wouldn't have it any other way. This Diwali we would love you to be at our table.

We begin with a short Lakshmi puja at 7:15, sit down to a long, slow, entirely vegetarian dinner, and finish in the courtyard with sparklers for the children (and the grown-ups who pretend they don't want one). The diyas will be lit on every windowsill by then.

Come in your brightest clothes, leave your shoes at the porch, and bring one diya of your own if you have it. Everything else is taken care of.

👩 👨

Anjali & Rohanwith Aarav, Meera and Dadi

28 days to go

Save the evening

Sunday 8 November, 6:30 to 10:30 pm. Add it to your calendar now, before it gets lost between Diwali shopping and school runs.

↗ Google Calendar

🌙 Sunday 8 November

How the evening unfolds

From the first cup of chai to the last sparkler: four unhurried hours, in this order.

6:306:30 pm

🚪 Arrival, tilak and chai

The porch light is a string of four hundred marigold bulbs, so you can't miss us. Leave your shoes on the porch rack and Anjali or Rohan will put a tilak on your forehead. Masala chai and kesar-badam milk are waiting in the hall.

☕ Chai and kesar milk 🎨 Children go straight to the rangoli corner
7:157:15 pm

🙏 Lakshmi puja

Our family pandit, Shri Vishnu Joshi, leads a short puja in the front room: kalash, mantras, flowers and sweets as offerings, and a diya lit by every household. Sit on the floor or on the chairs along the wall. Phones on silent, please; photographs are welcome after the aarti.

⏳ About 45 minutes 🔔 Aarti around 7:55 🎁 Prasad for everyone
🍲8:15 pm

🍽️ Dinner, served thali-style

No buffet queue. Steel katoris come to the long table course by course, so nobody balances a plate on a knee. Seconds are not just allowed, they are expected. Everything is vegetarian, and the Jain and vegan dishes are marked on the thali card.

🌿 Pure vegetarian 👪 One long table, 40 seats
🍥9:30 pm

🍬 Mithai and chai

Kaju katli, motichoor ladoo, mohanthal and hot jalebi with rabri come out on the brass stand, next to whatever sweets you bring. Fresh masala chai and copper tumblers of kesar-badam doodh go round. Everyone leaves with a small box for the road.

🟠 Bring a sweet if you like
10:0010:00 pm

✨ Sparklers in the courtyard

Phuljhadi for every age, one at a time, lit by a grown-up. The children go first, then the rest of us. Details below.
🌙10:30 pm

🏠 Shubh ratri

The last diya goes out at half past ten, rickshaws and cars are called, and we wave you off from the porch.

Photo: Bhargava Marripati / Pexels

The muhurat, in plain language

🏺 When exactly is the puja?

Lakshmi puja is done in the early evening, after sunset. For our city this year our pandit-ji gives a window of 6:52 to 8:34 pm. We light the first diya at 7:15 and finish with aarti around 7:55.

Auspicious windowOur puja

6:307:158:159:3010:0010:30

Please be seated by 7:10. If you arrive a little late, slip in at the back; nobody minds, and you will still catch the aarti.

🏺 What happens in the puja

1
Ganesh vandanaA short prayer to Ganesha, who clears the way for everything that follows.
2
Kalash and the first diyaThe kalash is set down, and the oldest person in the room lights the first diya.
3
Offerings to LakshmiFlowers, rice and sweets, while Pandit-ji chants. Repeat the words, or simply listen.
4
Aarti and prasadEveryone stands, sings or claps along, and leaves the room with a tilak and a sweet.

A hand holds a lit sparkler throwing fine sparks against a dusky blue and orange sky, with other hands blurred in the background.

Photo: Warren / Unsplash

✨ 10:00 pm

🎇 Sparklers, the gentle kind

Phuljhadi only: no bangers, no rockets. A sparkler burns for about a minute, so we hand them out in small rounds and everyone gets two.

🛡️A grown-up lights and holds every child's sparkler. Under-fives watch from the porch with Dadi.
💧Two buckets of water at the gate, and a hose within reach.
🐕Pinto the dog hates loud noise, which is one more reason for sparklers only.

13°C

Clear and coolA typical early November night here. Bring a shawl.

45s

About a minuteThat is how long one phuljhadi lasts.

🌿 Pure vegetarian

Each course arrives in its own small steel bowl, the way Anjali's mother served it. Tap a katori to jump to its course.

Show me

All 20 dishes, all vegetarian.

Printed menu · Sunday 8 November 2026

Diwali Thali

Twenty dishes in five katoris, cooked by the family

🥗

Chaat & starters

Katori 1 · bright, crisp and sharp, to wake everyone up

Paneer tikka
Punjab
Cottage cheese marinated in hung curd, ajwain and kasuri methi, charred in the oven until the edges blister.
Dahi papdi chaat
Delhi
Crisp papdi under whipped curd, tamarind and mint chutneys, pomegranate and a dusting of chaat masala.
Khaman dhokla
Gujarat
Steamed chickpea-flour sponge with a mustard seed and curry leaf tempering, green chutney on the side.
VeganJain
Hara bhara kebab
Punjab
Spinach and green pea patties, pan-seared, with a mint and yoghurt dip.
Contains cashew

🍲

Dal & sabzi

Katori 2 · the slow-cooked heart of the meal

Dal makhani
Punjab
Whole black lentils and kidney beans simmered overnight with butter, cream and a little smoke.
Undhiyu
Surat, Gujarat
The winter classic: surti papdi, baby aubergine, purple yam and methi muthiya, slow-cooked with coconut and peanuts.
VeganContains peanuts
Shahi paneer
Awadh
Paneer in a silky tomato and cashew gravy, finished with cream and a pinch of cardamom.
Contains cashew
Gujarati dal
Gujarat
Thin, sweet-sour toor dal with jaggery, kokum and a ghee tempering. No onion, no garlic.
Jain

🍚

Rice & breads

Katori 3 · for mopping up everything above

Jeera pulao
Punjab
Basmati rice with toasted cumin, green peas and whole spices.
Jain
Puri & phulka
Gujarat
Puffed puris and soft phulkas straight from the tawa, brought hot in small batches. Ghee only if you ask.
VeganJain
Beetroot raita
North India
Grated beetroot in whisked curd with roasted cumin and a few curry leaves.
Papad & pickles
Gujarat
Roasted masala papad, lime pickle, mango chhundo and coriander chutney.
Vegan

🍬

Mithai

Katori 4 · made at home and bought from Hari Sweets, with no shame

Kaju katli
All over India
Thin diamonds of cashew fudge with a flick of silver leaf, the one everybody reaches for first.
Contains cashew
Motichoor ladoo
Rajasthan
Tiny boondi pearls pressed into soft saffron ladoos with a pistachio sliver on top.
Contains pistachio
Mohanthal
Gujarat
Fudgy gram-flour squares with ghee, saffron and almond; the Mehta family recipe.
Contains almond
Jalebi with rabri
Madhya Pradesh
Saffron jalebis fried to order, served hot over cold, slowly thickened rabri.

🥛

Chai & coolers

Katori 5 · to end on, or to start again with

Masala chai
Mumbai
Strong Assam leaf, ginger and cardamom, with a little too much sugar, the cutting-chai way.
Kesar-badam doodh
Gujarat
Hot milk with saffron, almonds and pistachio, served in copper tumblers.
Contains almond
Jaljeera
Rajasthan
Cumin, mint, tamarind and black salt over ice: a palate cleanser and an old digestif.
VeganJain
Nimbu masala soda
Mumbai
Sweet-salty lemon soda with roasted cumin, the kind from the street cart.
VeganJain

🔖Need a fully Jain thali, or a nut-free plate for a child? Say so in your RSVP and Meena masi will cook it separately in her own pans. The main kitchen does use nuts, so we cannot promise a nut-free room.

🎁 The mithai table

Bring a sweet, take a box home

Our dining room has a brass stand that has held mithai every Diwali since 1987. Bring a box of your own family's favourite and we will set it out with your name beside it, so everyone knows whose halwa is whose. Nut-free where you can, please: one of Aarav's classmates is allergic to peanuts.

On the table so far5 sweets

🍬Nisha & Dev PatelSoan papdi
🍥Prakash UncleHot jalebis from Hari Sweets
🟠Tanvi ShahBesan ladoo (nut-free)
🍰The Iyer familyRava kesari
🍪Maya & Ben OkaforCoconut barfi

＋ Add yours when you RSVP

Antique brass pedestal bowls holding bright orange ladoo and colourful modak sweets, with pink and white flowers softly blurred in front.

💡 Good to know

Small things that make the night easy

The questions our friends always ask, answered before they ask them.

👘

Dress code

Festive Indian or smart. Silks, kurtas, anarkalis, sherwanis and saris are all welcome, and so is a good jacket. Jewel tones and gold glow beautifully by lamplight. Black is traditionally skipped on Lakshmi puja evening.

🚪

Shoes off

Shoes come off at the porch, where there is a rack and a bench. Socks are fine, and there is a basket of spare indoor chappals in sizes 5 to 11. The floors are cool, so bring socks if you are the sort who feels it.

🪔

Bring a diya

Bring one diya if you have it. We provide oil, wicks and matches, plus sixty spare clay ones the children painted last weekend. After the puja, yours goes on a windowsill for the night.

🅿️

Parking

Street parking on Jasmine Row is free after 6 pm. The overflow is St. Anselm's Hall lot, two minutes' walk (the sign says Visitors). Please keep the driveway at No. 297 clear.

👶

Little ones

Children are the guests of honour. There is a high chair, a quiet room upstairs with mats and cushions, and a kids' plate of plain rice, dal and paneer cubes. Tell us ages in the RSVP.

♿

Step-free access

Step-free entry through the side gate on Maple Lane, a ground-floor bathroom, and a chair in the puja room for anyone who prefers one. Tell us in the RSVP if you need anything else.

🎁

Gifts

No gifts, please: your company is the gift. If you must, a box of sweets for the mithai table, or a donation to the Jasmine Row food bank, which Rohan will collect in a little brass pot by the door.

📷

Photos & phones

Photographs are lovely after the aarti. During the puja we ask for phones on silent and in pockets. We will share a group album the morning after, so you can put the camera down.

Top-down view of a circular floral rangoli on a tiled floor, built from red powder, orange and yellow marigold petals and pink flower motifs, ringed by small lit diyas.

🏵️ For the little ones

The kids' rangoli corner

Every Diwali our foyer floor becomes a canvas. Meera, who is eleven, runs the corner with mats, stencils, bowls of coloured powder and a basket of marigold petals. Children from four to twelve make one big pattern together, and at seven o'clock we ring it with diyas.

🧒 Ages 4 to 12
⏱️ 6:30 to 7:10 pm
💧 Washable colours
👕 Aprons provided

Design your own

Pick the petals and a colour mix, then ask Meera to help you draw it in powder on the night.

Petals

Colours

Two hands, one reaching in from each side, touch lit sparklers together in front of a building outlined with rows of warm fairy lights at night.

📍 Getting here

Find us on Jasmine Row

Look for the house outlined in marigold-coloured lights. The porch light goes on at six.

Photo: Hanshraj Cinematic short / Pexels

1 P B D 🧭

1 The Mehta houseP Hall parkingB Bus, Route 14D Drop-off

301 Jasmine Row

The Mehta residence
The house with the marigold lights
(a fictional address, for this demo)

📞 Call Rohan

🚗By carTake Mill Street to Jasmine Row. Park on the street (free after 6 pm) or in St. Anselm's Hall lot, marked P, two minutes away.
🚌By busRoute 14 stops at Mill Street and Jasmine Row, marked B, four minutes' walk. The last bus back leaves at 10:52 pm.
🚕By rideshareAsk to be dropped at the Mill Street corner, marked D. Our end of Jasmine Row is narrow and gets busy.

📖 Questions

Before you ask

If it isn't here, message us. Anjali answers faster than Rohan, but only slightly.

💬 WhatsApp Anjali: 555-0178 📞 Call Rohan: 555-0142 ✉️ hello@mehtahouse.example

Can I bring a friend, or my parents?▾

Of course; just count them in your RSVP, adults and children separately. We have forty seats and the counter above shows how many are left, so reply early. If you are a group of more than five, send Anjali a message first.

Is the food really all vegetarian?▾

Yes. No meat, fish, egg or gelatine will cross the threshold that night. Dairy is used freely, and the vegan and Jain dishes are marked on the thali card. Tell us about any allergy in the RSVP.

How long is the puja, and must I take part?▾

About forty-five minutes. Sit and watch, or join in; both are welcome. Restless children can wander to the back with Dadi, who will have a plate of fruit waiting.

What should the children wear?▾

Anything bright and comfortable. The rangoli powder washes out, but it is enthusiastic, so we hand out aprons. Many children like to wear their festive outfit after the rangoli corner closes at 7:10.

Will there be alcohol?▾

No. There is masala chai, kesar-badam doodh, jaljeera and nimbu masala soda, all on the thali card, and nobody has ever complained.

Can I bring flowers or a gift?▾

A marigold garland for the front door is always welcome. Otherwise, a box of sweets for the mithai table is perfect. No other gifts, please.

What about fireworks?▾

Sparklers only, lit by grown-ups, with water at hand. No bangers or rockets: our neighbours, the babies and Pinto the dog all thank you.

What if I need to cancel?▾

Message Anjali as early as you can and your seat goes to someone on the waiting list. Life happens, and no explanation is needed.

With love from our home to yours

शुभ दीपावली

Shubh Deepavali

May every window of your home be lit, every table be long, and every guest leave with something sweet in their hands. We cannot wait to celebrate with you.

👩Anjalihost and head cook
👨Rohanhost and head taster
👦Aaravsparkler captain
👧Meerarangoli boss
👵Dadikeeper of recipes

With love and a great deal of ghee,

✉️ RSVP before 29 October

Diwaliat the Mehta House

Come hungry, come bright, bring a diya

Save the evening

How the evening unfolds

🚪 Arrival, tilak and chai

🙏 Lakshmi puja

🍽️ Dinner, served thali-style

🍬 Mithai and chai

✨ Sparklers in the courtyard

🏠 Shubh ratri

🎇 Sparklers, the gentle kind

The thali card

Chaat & starters

Paneer tikka

Dahi papdi chaat

Khaman dhokla

Hara bhara kebab

Dal & sabzi

Dal makhani

Undhiyu

Shahi paneer

Gujarati dal

Rice & breads

Jeera pulao

Puri & phulka

Beetroot raita

Papad & pickles

Mithai

Kaju katli

Motichoor ladoo

Mohanthal

Jalebi with rabri