19 Creative Diwali Party Ideas

Diwali is one of the most festive celebrations in India, celebrating light and new beginnings. It is a multi-day holiday filled with music, dancing, food, and fun. So what are some creative ways to celebrate with your friends and family? Let Peerspace inspire you with a few of our favorite Diwali party ideas for your festival of light!

1. Make some traditional Diwali foods

Diwali desserts include some incredible desserts like jalebi, crunchy fried dough sticks covered in sweet syrup and rose-infused gulab jamun. Add some savory snacks like vegetable samosas and some fried pakoras to add balance to the sweets. If you need a good list of Diwali food ideas, check out what the Food Network has cooking!

2. Hang light strings

Diwali is the festival of lights so bring the theme to life in a powerful way with light strands hung throughout your venue! You can and should mix in multiple different colors, shapes, and intensities for even more contrast! At each table, you can set a few candles for a softer, more intimate glow for dinner and conversation.

Did you know that Peerspace has Diwali party spots like this centrally located turfed yard in Tampa, FL, with some hanging lights to get you started? Many of our event venues come pre-decorated to match the theme of special occasions!

3. Use colored cloth strips behind the lights

Strips of tulle fabric can be hung behind the hanging lights for even more beauty. We recommend using colors that add contrast to the venue, like yellow, red, green, and orange! Be sure to use fabrics that are heat resistant as well to avoid fires being started by incandescent light bulbs.

4. Decorate the venue with marigold flowers

Marigold flowers are considered auspicious in Hindu tradition as they symbolize new beginnings, much like the rising sun they look like. They are also potent herbs that offer health benefits like relieving stress and improving mood disorders! So use some marigold blossoms as decorations around the entryway, at the party tables, and as hanging flower garlands around the venue.

5. Set up stations to light candles and Diyas

As the Festival of Lights, Diwali is a chance for everyone to celebrate light in all its forms. Give guests the chance to ceremonially create light with candles and Diyas, small clay lamps that are a traditional part of the celebration.

Need more venue inspiration? Then discover how to find an Airbnb for events here!

6. Hire a henna artist

Henna is a big part of many traditional Indian parties. Weddings are the big one but Diwali is another reason to enjoy these beautiful, intricate patterns. You can hire henna artists for special occasions like a Diwali party.

7. Plan a fireworks display

Since liveliness and light are the theme of Diwali, fireworks are a natural addition to the party atmosphere! The crackling brilliance of fireworks lighting up the sky, temporarily banishing the darkness is the story of Diwali written onto the heavens. So pick up a few fireworks or hire an expert to run the fireworks show for you. They more than likely already have experience planning Diwali celebrations and can recommend a range of fireworks that will create a memorable experience for all.

8. Craft some rangolis together

Rangolis are another traditional part of the Diwali celebration. These decorative patterns are made using powder and flowers. They can be as simple or intricate as you like: all rangolis are auspicious beginnings to a great Diwali party! One way to make an activity out of it is by setting up craft stations with flowers, petals, colored rice, and powders. Give everyone a set amount of time to craft one and have judges choose a winner based on the beauty and size of the final designs.

9. Serve a vegetarian banquet

Since many Hindu traditions extol vegetarian diets as being the holiest, it’s common for a Diwali spread to be meat-free or even vegan. So choose main courses that do away with meat. Fortunately, Indian cuisine is one of the richest culinary traditions when it comes to eating meat-free! From savory curries using spinach and potato to yogurt-based condiments, eating vegetarian has never been easier at a Diwali party.

10. Prepare for cool weather with heating elements

Diwali typically falls between October and November, which is the middle of autumn in most parts of the world. That means the weather is going to be on the cool side. If your Diwali party is an outdoor affair then you should prepare a few ways for guests to stay warm. Some blankets or sweaters might be enough in most parts of the world.

A fire pit is a great way to celebrate the warmth-giving powers of light. Many of the party venues we have on Peerspace include them, like this industrial outdoor space in Seattle, WA, with a fire pit, hanging lights, and a bar area!

11. Have the kids make some flameless Diyas

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You want to get the kids involved with your Diwali party ideas but fire is probably not a good one to start with. Let them make some flame-free Diyas using Play-Doh instead! Use plain and sparkling Play-Doh and instruct them to wrap it around LED diya lamps and you have a few flame-free Diyas they will be proud to show everyone!

12. Create a quiet space for a prayer altar

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/155303888097735481/

Diwali is a religious festival and some guests may want time to contemplate in prayer. A quiet area with statues of Ganesh or Lakshmi, surrounded by candles, provides a great opportunity for anyone wanting to connect in this way.

13. Make it a Bollywood-themed event

If you’d love for your guests to come dressed to the nines, embrace Bollywood as a Diwali party idea! Have them wear sherwanis, sharis, and other traditional clothing while you play Bollywood films and music in the background.

14. Set up a photo area

The beauty of the hanging lights and your friends’ outfits means ample opportunities to take some pictures! Why not designate a part of the party venue as a photo spot? You can create an archway of lights, give out crackling sparklers, and let guests take selfies together. Or better still, hire a professional event photographer to take and send portraits to everyone. These will look far better than any cell phone selfies ever can!

15. Play some card games together

Taash (card games) are another traditional activity to include at a Diwali party! Betting games like teen patti may or may not include money, depending on how serious you get with it. Otherwise, just kick back with a few beers and have some fun with cards! Games like rummy and blackjack are just as much fun to include.

16. Send out Diwali-themed party invitations

The top of your list of Diwali party ideas should include invitations that make it obvious what the party theme is! Custom invitations from Etsy have both printable and digital invites available. So one goes instantly to your friends’ phones while another shows up at their mailbox!

17. Hang paper lanterns throughout the venue

Paper lanterns add even more soft light alongside the garlands and candles you’ll be placing everywhere. Lanterns are some of the most decorative ways to illuminate the space; paper lanterns come in all kinds of patterns, shapes, and sizes. You can even make a crafting event for your guests by providing lantern-making kits!

18. Give out party gifts to your guests

Gift-giving is a fun Diwali party idea! Each gift should be small but thoughtful; party favors like sparklers you’ll light up later to celebrate the coming of the lights are enough. As are goodie bags filled with traditional Indian snacks or tea lights shaped like figures from Hindu mythology.

19. Make it a potluck dinner

The bigger the Diwali party is the more effort it will be to feed everyone. So how about making it a potluck dinner instead? That way, everyone can contribute something to the dinner table! Plus you’ll get to taste the techniques others have mastered in the kitchen. Just be sure to include a sign-up sheet so you won’t have to deal with duplicate platters! 

Check out these fun potluck party ideas to make your Diwali menu planning a breeze!

Diwali party ideas: conclusion

As you can see, no Diwali celebration needs to look like the others when there are so many Diwali party ideas to explore! From fireworks to fine food, our list of ideas has everything you need for an unforgettable occasion. If Peerspace has been a great resource for your party planning needs, get to know us better by exploring the many party venues near you that we have for Diwali festivals and other celebrations! 

Find unique gathering venues for your Diwali party on Peerspace