[img src="http://admin.mashable.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Diwali_Sweets_Pin.jpg" caption="" credit=""Mashable Composite, [ © WIEDER, FRANK/THE FOOD PASSIONATES/CORBIS], [@canalcocina]" alt="Diwali_Sweets_Pin"]
Get out the sparklers and festive outfits. It's time to celebrate Diwali.
This festival of lights, one of the most widely celebrated holidays in India, starts on Nov. 9 this year and continues for five nights.
The event, which coincides yearly with the Hindu new year, is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains. The festival honors several deities; the third night, the new moon night, is all important in northern and western India.
The gustatory part of the festival is majorly centered around sweets.
Gopi, a 22-year-old New Jersey resident and lifelong celebrator of Diwali, says gifting sweets is important in Indian culture. This is especially true during Diwali, when treats are even used as offerings at temples.
Of course, you can offer these traditional celebratory sweets to your dinner guests and blow their minds.
1. Gulab Jamun
A photo posted by Canal Cocina (@canalcocina) on Nov 2, 2015 at 5:06am PST
These doughnut holes are made from a milk and flour batter. They are deep fried and drenched in sugar syrup. Yes, they are as delicious as they sound.
2. Ras Malai
A photo posted by Daawat Restaurant (@daawatoman) on Oct 21, 2015 at 4:11am PDT
Balls or disks of Indian cottage cheese (chenna) are gently simmered in sweetened condensed milk flavored with cardamom and saffron. Nuts like pistachios are sometimes added. Then the dish is served chilled. Making these from scratch can take awhile, but if you can buy the disks (rasgullas) ready-made, that saves time.
3. Halwa
A photo posted by Shweta (@merry_tummy) on Nov 2, 2015 at 1:29pm PST
Though there are many variations of halwa, the result is always heavenly. This rich, thick pudding is nothing like halva, so get that sesame seed concoction out of your mind. This is made with flour, milk, almonds and lots of sugar. It often contains pistachios, saffron or even carrots.
4. Kaju Katli
A photo posted by Delhish (@delhishofficial) on Oct 27, 2015 at 2:48am PDT
This cashew, sugar and nut candy is boiled then spread into sheets and cut into geometric shapes. They are often covered in edible silver foil and are vegan-approved.
5. Shikran
At its simplest, this is milk and sugar mixed with fruit and cardamom to make a pudding. Sometimes, the milk is boiled first, which reduces and thickens it. Bananas and mangos are popular ingredients, but this is one dessert customizable to your tastes.
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