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.