Book Review: Celebrate Diwali: Recipes, Activities, and Crafts for the Entire Family by Renu Bhardwaj

Rating: 4 Stars

I picked up Celebrate Diwali by Renu Bhardwaj wanting a cozy, approachable guide to the festival—and that’s exactly what I found. It reads like a warm conversation with someone who wants you and your kids to love Diwali as much as they do: part cookbook, part craft book, part family-planning guide, all wrapped in bright, inviting pages.

At its heart, the book is built for families who want to bring traditional Diwali celebrations into their homes. Bhardwaj keeps things very accessible: there’s just enough background for people new to the holiday, a good helping of nostalgia for those reconnecting with childhood memories, and practical, family-friendly ideas for parents—especially second- and third-generation Indian moms and dads—who want to create meaningful rituals with their children. The layout makes it easy to jump right into cooking, decorating, or planning without feeling overwhelmed.

What I liked most was the variety. The recipes range from savory snacks like samosa chaat and chili paneer to comforting sweets (Nani’s creamy kheer is one of the standouts) and edible gift ideas like coconut ladoo and chocolate peda. The book isn’t trying to be a complicated chef’s manual; the dishes feel doable for a busy family kitchen and sound delicious enough to make guests feel special. On the crafts side, there are step-by-step instructions for making diyas, paper garlands, lanterns, and even fun edible projects like rangoli sugar cookies—projects that really invite kids to participate in decorating and gift-making.

Practical tools are sprinkled throughout: a countdown calendar, checklists, and menu ideas that take a lot of the stress out of planning a celebration. I can easily picture teachers using this in a classroom setting—there’s material for lessons, snacks, and kid-friendly crafts that help explain the holiday in a hands-on way.

Personally, I found the whole book delightful. It was an enjoyable and informative read that balanced cultural context with hands-on activities. If you’re curious about Diwali, want to recreate or reinterpret family traditions, or need one accessible resource to guide your family’s celebrations, this book is a lovely place to start. It feels like a one-stop, cheerful companion to making Diwali memorable year after year.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Anyone interested in learning about the religious holiday Diwali will find this book to be a helpful guide. It teaches the reasonings behind the 5-day festival as well as how to celebrate it with foods, decorations, and rituals. Although I was aware that Diwali existed that was about all I knew. Turns out it's a holiday celebrated by several Indian religions; each in their own way. Celebrate Diwali has easy to make recipes (which can be difficult to find when it comes to Indian food) along with craft instructions (and templates) for holiday decor and party invitations.

To me, the greatest part of this book is the understanding it gives to non-Indian readers because the more we learn about each others' cultures and beliefs, the more likely we are to accept one another.

Thank you to NetGalley, and the publisher for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely wish I was reading this on my Kindle becuae all the pictures, crafts and food look so good . This would make an excellent gift for anyone who doesn't know about Diwali or is still learning about it. My favorite parts were the sweets, chocolates recipes and the crafts look fabulous and I will be trying then with my kiddo.

Definitely a must read.

Everything you need to know about celebrating Diwali!

The author of this book grew up on stories from her mother’s childhood in India and she mentions she’s writing this book for similar people - those who are second, third, or fourth generations removed from growing up in India, but I would also say this book is great for those who married into an Indian family, or simply those wanting to learn more about Diwali! I actually think this would be great for home schoolers learning about different traditions and religions around the world.

There are simple but informative explanations of the meaning behind Diwali, the symbolism and the traditions associated. I enjoyed that the author kept explanations short, since the point of this book isn’t to go into great depth, it’s to help you celebrate Diwali with loved ones.

My family cooks a lot of Indian recipes, so I was most excited to try those out. I started with samosa chaat and it was easy to follow and tasted delicious! The crafts are on the simple side, so they’re easy to accomplish with family members of varying ages.

This book is beautiful and fun! I did read the ebook version, which worked out fine, but I’d recommend buying in physical format because it’s easier for the recipes and crafts.


Thank you NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own

This guide to Diwali goes through all you need to know about the festivity, in an easy and accessible way. After summarising why Diwali is celebrated (Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists have differing reasons), the book goes through what you need to know, including what to wear, what gifts to give, what to cook (providing plenty of recipes with pictures) and even how to perform a puja. There are also plenty of crafts that you can do with your children to create decorative ornaments or festive gifts. The book feels very festive, with lots of cute decorations on the pages.


As someone who has no prior knowledge of Diwali, this book felt very accessible and easy to understand to me. The book seems to be aimed at Hindu families who have emmigrated to countries where Diwali is not generally celebrated, and who want to stay connected with their traditions and carry them on to the coming generations; I think for these families this book will be very useful indeed. It is written with lots of heart, and it is obvious that the author cares deeply for this event, which makes a big difference for the reading experience. It is also lovely to see the author being of the culture that is being described, as too often I find books about Indian culture are written by authors not of that culture but only describing it from the outside, so the author having grown up with the traditions made me trust her words more.
4.5/5 stars from me :)

I received a free digital ARC copy of this book for reviewing from Andrews McMeel Publishing via Netgalley, which I am very thankful for. However, my review is based on my honest opinions.

As someone from the United States, I’ve always been fascinated by cultural traditions and foods outside of my own. This book was such a vibrant, joyful introduction to Diwali! I especially loved how it highlighted vegetarian-friendly dishes; so many of the recipes sounded absolutely delicious, and the use of spices had me ready to raid my pantry and start cooking immediately.

The design of this book is also gorgeous.. bright, festive, and full of energy. The colors really popped and made the whole experience feel even more celebratory. I appreciated that it wasn’t just a cookbook, but also included crafts, family activities, and step-by-step guides for decorations that help bring the Diwali spirit into the home.

Whether you’re familiar with Diwali culture or just beginning to learn, this book is an incredible resource and celebration of culture, family, and flavor.

Celebrate Diwali is a terrific introduction to the holiday and Hindu culture. The author included a number of terrific recipes and crafts. I made the barfi - a super yummy (sweet!) dessert with pistachios - and plan to try the gulab jamun. Recommend this book for children or teen readers. I liked the history and background information, but the graphics and content seemed appropriate primarily for children. That said, a great resource for teachers or parents.

This was a great cookbook. Very easy-to-follow recipes. I can't wait to try these recipes. I would highly recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Andrew’s McNeel Publishing for an ARC of this book.

This gorgeous book provides everything you need to prepare a special Diwali celebration.

It gives the history and significance of Diwali, how to decorate the house, beautiful recipes, decorations and how to create them, mantras and so much more.

It is colourfully decorated accompanied with beautifully photographed recipes and home made decorations.
This really is everything you need to create a special celebration.

Highly recommended.

Diwali is a religious celebration that commemorates the re-ignition of light over darkness and good over evil. It is the biggest holiday in India and is celebrated by several religions there, primarily Hindu, but also Buddhist, Sikh, and Jain. It generally lasts for five days. For those not familiar with the holiday, author Renu Bharwaj explains it in a fun, colorful book, Celebrate Diwali: Recipes, Activities, and Crafts for the Entire Family, that makes celebrating the holiday fun.

The biggest part of the celebration, as most holidays do, is around food. This book features traditional recipes that mostly have Indian nuances, but sound very appealing, even to Indian children. The recipe portion of the cookbook features 19 recipes, some that are for traditional Indian main dishes and snacks, and some that are unique to the holiday. The recipes are written in the traditional manner with the ingredients listed first, followed by step-by-step instructions. Once the ingredients (some are only available at Asian and Indian markets), both beginning and advance cooks will have no trouble making them. Most of the recipes include notes, tips, and information on the recipe. While the recipes are not particularly quick and easy, they are doable and very authentic.

The entire book is colorful and features bright illustrations that appeal to children and adults. The recipes are accompanied by beautiful, mouthwatering photographs that will inspire readers to make the recipes at home, whether or not they are celebrating the holiday. All told, this is a fun book and worth adding to your recipe collection.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

This is fantastic. As someone who loves learning about holidays outside of my own culture, I was excited to learn more about Diwali. I plan to use this to create a homeschool curriculum for my little one when she's a little older to have her learn about Diwali as well.

A wonderful draft and cookbook for those so celebrate Diwali or those who want to learn more. Filled with lovely artwork full of color, this one also gives you lessons on how to explain to kids about the holidays and ways to engage your family through drafts, stories, and food. I can wait to try a few with my kids when the holiday comes.

Wow! This book is so gorgeous, and such a great resource for celebrating Diwali. There was background and food and crafts -- although the focus was on food, which I am totally here for, because there were so many recipes, both familiar and unfamiliar to me, with stunning photos. This would be a great cookbook for any time.

This book is a seriously cool one stop shop for all things Diwali. It’s broken up into such helpful sections such as explaining Diwali to children, games and activities, recipes, and more. It is not light on text, information, or imagery. It is a well researched and information packed guide. Great for any collection.

The first thing that caught my eye was the bright, vibrant cover—and as I flipped through the pages, I was delighted to find that the entire book bursts with the same energy and color on every page!
This beautifully designed book is a comprehensive and cheerful guide to celebrating Diwali. Whether you're new to the festival or looking to handle the preparations on your own, it serves as a helpful companion filled with inspiration and practical tips. For those familiar with the festival, it still offers a fresh perspective and fun ideas to try.
The book begins by explaining the significance of Diwali, including a child-friendly version of the festival’s origin story. It also includes a detailed section on How to Host a Diwali Dinner, walking you through everything needed to plan a joyous celebration.
The recipe section features 20 delicious dishes—from starters and mains to sides, desserts, and drinks. Each recipe comes with a short introduction, servings, ingredients, and easy-to-follow steps. Even beginners will find them manageable. The standout feature here is the mouthwatering food photography, which makes every dish look irresistible. There’s even a helpful visual on how to arrange a festive thali (meal plate)!
The Crafts section includes 10 fun and festive activities like making marigold garlands, decorating diyas, creating Rangoli sand art, and even a Diwali poster template—perfect for kids and adults alike. Each craft is clearly explained and supported by colorful images.
The Gifts section is equally creative, offering ideas for homemade wrapping paper, trinket boxes, and simple edible treats. Other sections cover how to decorate your home, what to wear, how to pack children’s gift boxes, and how to perform a simple puja.
A countdown checklist, starting four weeks before Diwali, helps keep you organized. The book also includes bhajans, aartis, mantras, and a Hindu festive calendar for added spiritual depth.
The final pages offer useful templates for planning—like to-do lists, menu planners, and notes—as well as a supplier directory for spices craft and decor materials.
Overall, this book is a thoughtful, joyful, and practical guide to celebrating Diwali. While every family has its own traditions, this book offers a warm North Indian perspective and can be a delightful way to begin or enhance your celebration. It’s perfect for families, DIY enthusiasts, or anyone curious to dive into the spirit of the Festival of Lights!

Exquisite illustrations and filled with gorgeous colour and designs. Also accompanied by gorgeous photography. Chose to read as I’m a Christian but am very Spiritual/open minded to other religions, my husband and children are Métis Cree on one side, and my Great Grandmother was Jewish. We are raising our children to be respectful and open minded on all religions, including those in our family history, so thought it would be a lovely book to educate myself through. I loved hearing about Rama and Sita - as a child I loved the movie and book A Little Princess, so remembered their story from that. Taught me so much about the culture and the holiday, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, from the delicious recipes to the beautiful crafts. 🥰 I felt really called to read this book, and felt it’s really special that she lived not far from where I grew up in England (before moving to Canada) and felt it even more special that she now lives in Scotland - both my husband and I have Scottish ancestry and Inverness is where we spent our honeymoon. Overall, an absolutely stunning, well designed, and lovely book. It was an absolute pleasure to read.