The art of the Diwali table: An inside look at the most sparkling table settings

Something shifts in India this time of the year—two weeks before Diwali, the lights start twinkling; with ten days to go, the cleaning supplies are wheeled into homes, kitchens, and workspaces; a week out and the decks of cards are fished out from freshly cleaned drawers, and menus are planned. And then, there is the conjured image from our collective imaginations—a table groaning under the weight of all that joy, people gathered around it, swapping stories, food, and love.

Every Diwali table tells a story—of traditions revisited and of private rituals cemented over shared plates. The spirit of our festival of lights is perfectly encapsulated in the unspoken understanding that this table is a place of welcome, a moment to pause and celebrate the joy of community and carry forward the tradition of illumination. Bazaar India spoke to four of the best party throwers—all multi-hyphenates—who put as much care and effort into their Diwali table as they do into their several other pursuits. From thoughtfully curated inspiration to design elements reflecting their own special blend of heritage, creativity, and warmth, they take us through the stories behind their Diwali tables. And these stories are worth documenting for posterity, recording for inspiration, and celebrating for their spirit.

Aditi Dugar, Founder and Director of Masque, Sage & Saffron, and TwentySeven Bakehouse

 

 

There are those for whom the table is a reflection of their personal journeys, their roots and their travels, informing their tables and inspiring them. Dugar says, “My Diwali table is always a visual mix of modern and traditional. I’ve picked up several wooden antique pieces from my travels to Rajasthan—they’re a bit of a hat tip to my family’s roots and are perfect for this set-up. And since I love flowers, no table I set up is complete without flowers. The marigolds make a table feel fuller; the pop of orange gives it a beautiful contrast. I’ve also used heaps of jasmine which help scent a space so naturally and are so quintessentially ‘Indian’. Yet, the arrangement feels very contemporary.”

Eeshaan Kashyap, Chef, Designer, Curator, and Founder of Tablescape by Eeshaan

 

 

For Kashyap, the Diwali table depends on who is coming, what’s in season, and what’s at hand. He begins planning his table about four or five days before he lays it out. “You can really create an environment for something that you’re celebrating and experiencing. So, right from putting flowers to candles, every element is important because it creates a memory and a narrative of the people around the table. And for the gathering, I think it definitely adds excitement and smiles. It’s a dual experiential point for creating a table and, of course, experiencing a table. And at the end of the day, it’s the people who make the table exciting.” Using lots of layers—textiles, saris, seasonal flowers—Kashyap's table is laid with food he has cooked and accompanied by thoughtful details like a self-serve cocktail trolley, allowing friends and family to feel at home.

Renjie Wong, Founder of SALON Colaba, and Area Director at Singapore Tourism Board

 

 

Wong's table, an experience in itself, is a tribute to “what’s so magical about Diwali in India: that something like joy may be universal, but that some cultures just find a way to always celebrate it a little extra joyously.”

Explaining his most extraordinary Diwali table, he says, “This festive table is inspired by Ashiesh Shah’s Swayam Hands of Adam sculpture: the strange, serpentine form of cast aluminium mirrored in one hundred metres of strung marigold tumbling out of old heirloom [pots] and snaking their way across the table. The instruction is simple: guests are invited to fill out the negative spaces on the table with loose marigold petals, wherever and however they choose, in an act of mindful celebration. Over the course of the evening, the field of stark marigold rivers becomes only more and more exuberant: guests leave orange swirls and paisleys and heaps and dots, and perfectly circular holes where candles and cups had been placed down. By the end of the night, the table is transformed into an undulating topography of collective celebration.”

Maitri Shah, Founder and Creative Director of Mai Stories

 

Embracing a different direction for her Diwali table, Shah looked West for some Parisian charm. Taking inspiration from her collaborator’s favourite restaurant, Lapérouse in Paris, she said she wanted “to create a table that is reminiscent of the intimate and discreet ambience of Lapérouse’s elegant private salons and one that also shares the magic of a candlelit dinner sublimated by Indian spirits of festivity.”

You can tell how much she enjoys doing up her Diwali table. She says, “A well-decorated table instantly becomes the talking point for so many things—the perfect backdrop for your pictures, a holding place to gather your guests, a place to share your stories and create memories that last a lifetime. And Diwali is so close to my heart—it's the best time to channel your inner hostess, a great time to entertain and be entertained!”

Lead image: Maitri Shah

Other images: Eeshaan Kashyap, Aditi Dugar, Renjie Wong, Maitri Shah

Also read: The ultimate wardrobe edit for this festive season