Lanes across the city buzz with an eclectic energy, and every balcony jutting out of buildings is adorned with string lights flashing yellow. Kids run around with sparklers and chakris in the vibrant lanes of Karol Bagh while elders busy themselves with a few drinks served best with a game of cards. Spending your Diwali in Delhi equals mouthwatering delicacies, a fresh range of new and traditional activities, and a chance to catch the city ornamented. We therefore bring you a carefully curated list of the best things to do this Diwali in Delhi!
Table Of Contents
Best activities this Diwali
1. Pre Diwali Party @ Molecule Gurugram
From Diwali-themed cocktails to mouthwatering food and lots of dancing, this pre-Diwali celebration brings a whole lot of glamour.
📅October 15-17
🎟️You can book your tickets here
2. Diwali Dhamaka @ Auro Kitchen Bar
Enter a space transformed with stunning string lights and festive decor for the party of the season. Expect a DJ set playing classic Bollywood music, photo booths, cocktails, and lots of Diwali gifts. All you have to do is show up in your sparkliest desi fit!
📅October 17
🎟️You can book your tickets here
3-4. Book tickets to an enhancing candlelight concert
Seat yourself among the hues of a thousand candles while listening to spectacular renditions of your favourite music artists. From the tunes of Arijit Singh to the soundtracks of your favourite Bollywood movie, prepare to be enchanted!
✨Candlelight: Mehfil-e-Sufi (October 26 at Le Méridien)
🌟Candlelight: Tribute to A.R. Rahman (October 26 at Le Méridien)
5. Explore beautiful places near Delhi this Diwali weekend
Delhi does have a lot to explore and participate in this festival season. From crowded shopping districts to visit and parties to attend, we understand needing a smidge of a break, especially when the festival brings forth the gift of a long weekend! We therefore bring you places to visit near the city to spend Diwali your way:
🛣️Trithan Valley, Himachal Pradesh: Explore the Great Himalayan National Park as the dense forest envelops you, bringing the gift of utter tranquillity. You can book a homestay here and enjoy a quiet night playing cards with your friends and family, all rejuvenated to explore the mountains the next morning.
🛣️Jaipur: With the whole city lighting up for Diwali, Jaipur is an ideal destination for a short trip to soak up the goodness of the festival. Visit the Nahagarh fort to witness the city lights imitating a sparkle of fireflies in a dark forest, or plan a staycation at their royal palaces offering lavish meals, firework displays and live performances.
You can read the full list of beautiful towns near Delhi to visit this Diwali here
6. Enjoy a langar at Gurdwara Bangla Sahib
Though offered in Gurdwaras every single day of the year, the langar at Bangla Sahib during Diwali offers something special. With the Sikh community celebrating Bandi Chor Diwas, the Gurdwara lights up its premises with enchanting canticles playing on a loop. They feed hundreds of people to an authentic home-cooked meal throughout the day as people come pouring in to join in on the festivities.
Delhi markets for Diwali shopping
7. Buy sweets at these best Delhi sweet shops
With shops operating overtime this season, you can find boxes of the best sweet treats to gift your loved ones or stock up for personal indulgence!
🍮Chaina Ram Sindhi Confectioneries: Supported by popular votes, this joint stands to serve one of the most delicious cham-chams, gulab jamuns and kalakands among more. Made in pure desi ghee, a box of mithai from here is the best gift for your loved ones with an extra sweet tooth!
🍮Om Sweets and Snacks: The dhoda barfis here are legendary for a reason! This melt-in-the-mouth sweet that leaves a delicious longing for more is the best gift this Diwali season. You can also opt for ras malai, jalebis and kaju katlis here.
🍮Annapurna Sweet Shop: One of the best Bengali sweet shops in Delhi, try their scrumptious sandesh, rasgullas and halwas among more.
8. Head to the Blind School Diwali Mela
A sought-after carnival organised by the Blind Relief Association, this Diwali Mela has been a city tradition for 43 years now. From pretty novelties like envelopes, gift bags, scented candles and clay diyas- they are all beautifully crafted and painted by visually impaired children.
📍Blind School grounds on Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg
📅October 11-17, 2025
9. Browse through the Festival of Lights mela by Dastkar Delhi
Imagine stepping into a kaleidoscope because this is exactly what the lanes of Dastkar offer! A colourful Diwali mela brimming with handicrafts, you can find striking pieces of jewellery, hand-woven benches, and embroidered fabrics, to textiles and precious antiquities in shades of gold, silver and ivory. Hands down one of the best markets to snag beautiful and meaningful gifts this Diwali season, a walk past its 200-plus stalls will have you adding to your cart everything from scented candles and mosaic lamps to gorgeous paintings.
📍Dastkar Nature Bazaar, Anuvrat Marg, Andheria Modh, Chhatarpur
📅until October 15
🎟️Entry fees are capped at INR 40
10. Explore the vibrant lanes of Chandni Chowk
Open well past midnight, Chandni Chowk is a goldmine for all things Diwali. Whether you are looking for mouthwatering sweets, high-quality dry fruits, Diwali lights or rounds of ethnic clothing, these lanes have a shop for everything. Further, the market remains adorned with diyas, string lights, lamps and such that make the colourful and crowded lanes a sight to behold.
11. Get tickets to Delhi’s District 9 Diwali carnival
With over 30 stalls selling everything from festive decor, diyas, ethnic wear and more, perfect for Diwali hampers, this carnival is hardly one to miss. You can also find food courts belting out some seriously delicious street food to keep you up and fuelled to explore the grounds. The event further hosts live cultural acts along with fun rides for families with kids.
📍District 9, Noida
📅until October 18
🎟️You can get tickets here
Best restaurants and bars for Diwali dining deals
12. 6 Ballygunge Place
If you are looking to try authentic Bengali cuisine, this eatery is the one to stop at. From the timeless Mishti Doi and Nolengurer Icecream to Bhuna Chingri and Begun Bhaja, this restaurant will have you swabbing your plates clean.
📍Unit Nos. G7R3 and G8R, Ground Floor, Eldeco Centre, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi – 110017
13. Bukhara
This gorgeous restaurant, nestled in ITC Maurya, serves aromatic tandoori delicacies that call for several helpings. From Peshawari kebabs, tandoori jhinga to dal bukhara and tandoori pomfret, Bukhara provides a wholesome meal for the family.
📍ITC Maurya, Sardar Patel Marg, Akhaura Block, Diplomatic Enclave, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, Delhi 110021
14. Begam
Feast on Mediterranean platters from truffle risottos to mezze platters and croquettes. Serving refreshing and delicious drinks, you can call for spicy margaritas or choose from its array of mocktails.
📍Third Floor, D 5, Block D, Defence Colony, Defence Colony, New Delhi
15. Indian Accent
Starring in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants List, Indian Accent has secured some awards under its belt. This Diwali, you can opt for their four-course menu or go a la carte with delicious dishes like ghee roast soya boti and besan ladoo tart.
📍The Lodhi, Lodhi Rd, CGO Complex, Pragati Vihar, New Delhi, Delhi 110003
Bookmark this page for more events and fairs closer to the date!