Discover how to celebrate Diwali at work with festive ideas, traditional foods, and team-building activities to spark joy and connection.
Today's diverse teams bring a wide range of cultural traditions and celebrations — creating meaningful opportunities for workplaces to promote inclusivity, learn from one another, and bring some seriously delicious food to the table.
One such celebration is Diwali, the Festival of Lights. While deeply rooted in Hindu and Indian traditions, its themes of knowledge, positivity, unity — and food — can resonate with everyone.
From vibrant decor and thoughtful activities to festive foods that radiate culture and connection, here are some Diwali celebration ideas you can implement at work.
What is Diwali?
Also called Deepavali, Diwali is a vibrant five-day celebration observed by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and some Buddhists in India and around the world. It typically falls in the month of October or November, aligning with the new moon in the Hindu lunar month of Kartika. In 2025, Diwali will be celebrated on October 20.
At its core, Diwali celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. Marked by colorful decorations and glowing lights, it’s a joyful time for spiritual renewal, fresh beginnings, and meaningful connection with family, friends, and community.
Common Diwali traditions include:
Lighting diyas (oil lamps), candles, and fairy lights to fill homes and offices with a soft, radiant glow.
Gathering with family to share prayers, rituals, and joyful moments.
Enjoying fireworks which captures the energy and spirit of the festival. In more intimate gatherings, sparklers are also used.
Exchanging sweets and gifts as a way to share love, gratitude, and good wishes.
Traditional Diwali foods and their significance
Food plays a central role in Diwali. From rich sweets to savory snacks, each item has cultural meaning and deep symbolism.
Sweet treats
Sweet foods take center stage during Diwali, often representing good fortune, fresh starts, and the 'sweetness' of life. These festive treats do more than satisfy a sweet tooth; they're shared as heartfelt gestures of respect and warm wishes for the year ahead.
Ladoo (or Laddu): Round treats typically made with flour, clarified butter, and sugar or jaggery, and can be flavored with cardamom, nuts, or other spices.
Barfi (or Burfi): A milk-based sweet with a fudge-like consistency.
Jalebi: Hot, deep-fried dough spirals soaked in syrup and enjoyed fresh.
Kheer: A rice pudding made with milk and cardamom.
Savory snacks
Traditional Diwali food also features a range of savory delights served at tea time and during gatherings. They're essential for balancing the abundance of sweetness, and are often used to demonstrate preparedness and hospitality.
Chakli / Murukku: Spiral-shaped snacks shared widely in South and West India.
Namak Para: Crisp, spiced diamonds of fried dough.
Samosas: Triangular deep-fried pastries filled with a spiced potato and pea mixture (though other fillings exist).
Mathri: North Indian deep-fried biscuits often flavored with carom seeds (ajwain), black pepper, or fenugreek.
Festive drinks
No celebration is complete without something to sip on. Alongside tasty bites, these traditional beverages add warmth, flavor, and a touch of indulgence to Diwali festivities.
Masala Chai: Indian spiced tea made by boiling black tea with milk, sugar, and warming spices like ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves.
Kesar Milk (saffron milk): Warm milk infused with saffron threads and cardamom, sometimes sweetened and garnished with slivered almonds or pistachios.
Thandai: A chilled milk-based drink flavored with saffron and almonds, occasionally served during South Indian Diwali or celebratory meals.
How to celebrate Diwali at work
Knowing the symbolism of food during Diwali, it's just as important to celebrate with rituals and traditions. Here are some Diwali celebration ideas to try in the workplace.
Decorate the office
Bright colors, flowers, fairy lights, and paper lanterns can transform the office. You can even have employees create their own lanterns as a dedicated activity.
Order a traditional Indian lunch
Celebrate with food from a local Indian restaurant. With DoorDash for Business, it's easy to treat your team to delicious Indian food that appeals to every individual's dietary preferences and needs:
Group orders: Smaller teams can individually add meals to a shared group cart and enjoy together.
Catered office meals: Admins select the restaurant and menu for larger groups, delivered either in classic large tray formats or easy-to-distribute boxed meals.
Run a Rangoli design challenge
Rangoli is a traditional Indian folk artform using colored powders, flower petals, or rice to create patterns on the ground. Situate your team in a large open space, and challenge them to draw, paint, or use various materials to design their own winning Rangoli.
Host a gift exchange & cultural learning session
Invite employees to participate in a gift exchange where they can offer each other sweets, flowers, chocolates, or small trinkets. Pair it with a brief session — either a short presentation or guest speaker — to share the meaning of Diwali and encourage cultural appreciation.
Celebrate with culture, food, and community
Whether you’re brightening the office, enjoying traditional bites, or learning a new artform, Diwali offers rich opportunities to build team spirit and cultural understanding.
With these Diwali celebration ideas and DoorDash for Business providing easy meal planning at work, you're equipped to create memorable moments that can be shared with your team.
Learn more about how DoorDash for Business can transform your office meals.
