New here? Start with the World Festive guide — a tour of the celebrations and the food behind each one.
India’s Festivals
A year measured in feasts — from Kerala’s flower-carpeted Onam to the lamps of Diwali, the harvest kites of Sankranti, the colours of Holi, the shared meat of Eid, and Bengal’s nine nights of Durga Puja.
Kerala · August–September · Chingam harvest
Onam
Kerala's flower-carpeted harvest homecoming, built around the grand vegetarian Sadhya served on a banana leaf.
14 recipes
Across India · October–November · new-moon nights
Diwali
The festival of lights — rows of lamps, rangoli, and trays of sweets carried from door to door.
5 recipes
Pan-India · Gujarat to Tamil Nadu · Mid-January · the sun turns north
Makar Sankranti & Pongal
The mid-winter harvest of kites, bonfires, and sesame-jaggery sweets, celebrated under a dozen names.
5 recipes
North & East India · March · the spring full moon
Holi
The riotous festival of colours that welcomes spring, cooled by glasses of spiced thandai.
4 recipes
Across India · Lunar calendar · twice yearly
Eid & Bakrid
The shared feast that follows the fast and the sacrifice — sheer khurma at dawn, biryani and kebabs by day.
4 recipes
Bengal & the East · September–October · nine nights
Durga Puja & Navratri
Bengal's nine luminous nights of the goddess, run on community bhog and endless milk sweets.
5 recipes
Holiday Tables of the World
The great seasonal feasts beyond India, each anchored by one iconic dish — a French Yule log, the Thanksgiving turkey, Russia’s buttery Maslenitsa pancakes, and the prosperity dumplings of Lunar New Year.
France & Europe · December · midwinter
Christmas
Europe's great midwinter feast, closed in France with a chocolate Yule log.
1 recipe
United States · Late November · harvest
Thanksgiving
America's harvest table of gratitude, anchored by the once-a-year roast turkey.
1 recipe
Russia · Late winter · Butter Week
Maslenitsa
Russia's Butter Week of sun-golden pancakes that sees out the cold before Lent.
1 recipe
China & East Asia · January–February · new moon
Lunar New Year
East Asia's great reunion feast of prosperity dumplings and red lanterns.
1 recipe
Festivals of a Single Food
Some of the world’s most joyful festivals exist to honour one beloved dish or ingredient — no tradition or costume required, just a town, a date, and something delicious. Each goes straight to its recipe.
- Oktoberfest Bavarian Soft Pretzels (Brezn)
- Naples Pizza Village Neapolitan Pizza Margherita
- La Tomatina Gazpacho Andaluz (Spanish Chilled Tomato Soup)
- Maine Lobster Festival Maine Lobster Roll
- National Cherry Festival Classic Cherry Pie
- Taste of Chicago Chicago Italian Beef Sandwich
- Waikiki Spam Jam Spam Musubi (Hawaiian Spam Rice Snack)
- Gilroy Garlic Festival Garlic Noodles (San Francisco–Style)
- Salon du Chocolat French Chocolate Mousse (Mousse au Chocolat)
- Texas Hot Sauce Festival Texas-Style Roasted Hot Sauce
- Tokyo Ramen Show Tokyo Shoyu Ramen (Soy Sauce Ramen)
- Phuket Vegetarian Festival Pad Pak Ruam Mit (Thai Stir-Fried Mixed Vegetables)
More from the table
Looking for everyday cooking rather than celebration food? Explore the World Classics collection and the regional cuisines of India, or browse the full recipe collection.