Diwali Menu 2026 at Kalpna: A Vegetarian Festive Feast in Edinburgh
Diwali is the festival of lights, and in most Indian homes it is also the festival of the table. Families cook for days, sweets are passed between neighbours, and the meal matters as much as the diyas glowing in the window. This year, Kalpna is bringing that feeling to St Patrick Square with a special Diwali menu in Edinburgh, served from 6th to 15th November 2026.
Whether you celebrate Diwali every year or simply want to try a festive Indian meal for the first time, this guide covers everything you need to know: what is on the menu, what it costs, and how to book your table.
When Is Diwali 2026?
In the UK, the main day of Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday 8th November, when families perform Lakshmi Puja in the evening. The wider celebration runs across five days, starting with Dhanteras on Friday 6th November and closing with Bhai Dooj, when brothers and sisters celebrate their bond.
Our festive menu starts on Dhanteras and runs until Sunday 15th November. That gives you two full weekends to celebrate, whether you want to eat out on Diwali night itself or gather friends and family a few days later.
Celebrate the Festival of Lights with Flavours that Shine
Kalpna has been a vegetarian Indian restaurant in Edinburgh since 1975, and Diwali has always been one of our favourite times of the year. For the 2026 festive menu, our chefs have brought together dishes from different corners of India: a rich North Indian makhani gravy, a coconut-based avial from Kerala, street-style chaat, and the classic Diwali pairing of jalebi with rabri.
Every dish on the menu is vegetarian, as everything at Kalpna always has been. If you would like to know what that means in an Indian kitchen, our guide to what pure vegetarian means in Indian cuisine explains it clearly.
Festive cooking in India is about generosity. Dishes are richer than everyday food, dried fruits and nuts appear everywhere, and no celebration meal is complete without something sweet. We have built this menu around those same traditions. If you are curious about how different regions mark their celebrations, our article on Indian festival foods is a good place to start.
What's on the Kalpna Diwali Festive Menu
The menu follows the shape of a proper festive meal, from a welcome drink to a small gift at the end. It also moves between regions, so you get a taste of both North and South Indian vegetarian food in one sitting.
Welcome drink
Diwali Surprise – a refreshing drink to start your festive evening. We are keeping the details a secret, so you will have to visit to find out.
Starters
Beetroot Tikki – beetroot with chilli and cream, delicately spiced and served with traditional chutneys. The beetroot gives these tikkis a deep festive colour and a gentle natural sweetness.
Patta Gobi Chaat – crispy leaf chaat with tangy tamarind, fresh herbs and chatpatta spices. If you love bright, crunchy street food, this one is for you. You can read more about the history of Indian chaat and why it is loved across India.
Main course
Mewa Mozzarella Kofta in Makhani Gravy – koftas stuffed with fresh mozzarella, nuts and dried fruits, served in a rich makhani gravy. Mewa means dried fruits and nuts, which are a big part of festive cooking during Diwali.
Garden Avial – seasonal garden vegetables gently cooked with coconut, curry leaves and aromatic South Indian spices. Avial comes from Kerala, where it is a regular part of celebration feasts.
Lassoni Dal – slow-cooked lentils infused with roasted garlic and finished with a traditional tempering. Every Indian festive table has a dal, and this garlic-scented version is warming and comforting on a cold November night.
Basmati Rice – fragrant, steamed aged basmati, the perfect base for the makhani gravy and the dal.
Dessert
Jalebi with Rabri – crisp, golden jalebi paired with creamy, delicately sweetened rabri. Sweets sit at the heart of Diwali, and this warm-and-cool combination is one of the most loved festive desserts in North India. For more festive favourites, read our guide to Indian desserts and the sweets each region is known for.
Palate refresher
Bite-Size Paan Kulfi – a small, refreshing kulfi with the flavour of paan, the traditional way to finish a celebration meal in India.
A special Diwali gift
Every guest who enjoys the festive menu receives a little Diwali gesture from us to you. Exchanging gifts and boxes of mithai is one of the oldest Diwali traditions, and we wanted every table to leave with a small reminder of the evening.
Two Ways to Enjoy Your Diwali Dinner in Edinburgh
We have kept the pricing simple, so it works for a quick weeknight celebration as well as a longer evening with someone special.
Option 1: Diwali Thali – £20 per person
Enjoy the full Diwali menu served together as a complete Diwali thali, the traditional way. A thali brings every flavour onto one plate, so you can move between sweet, sour, spicy and creamy with each bite. It is also the easiest way to try everything on the menu at once. New to thalis? Our guide to the Indian thali explains how to enjoy one.
Option 2: Set Course for Two – £30 for two
Enjoy the same dishes as a set course for two people to share, served course by course. It is a lovely way to celebrate Diwali as a couple or with a close friend, and it makes a relaxed date night in Edinburgh during the festive season.
Individual dish prices are listed on the menu in the restaurant, so please ask your server if you would like to order something separately.
Why Celebrate Diwali at Kalpna
Diwali is a time for gathering, and the right restaurant makes that easy. Here is why many of our guests come back to us every festive season.
A fully vegetarian kitchen. Everything we cook is vegetarian, so there is no need to check every dish twice.
Heritage since 1975. Kalpna has been part of Edinburgh's food scene for decades, and you can read more of our story.
Dishes from across India. The festive menu sits alongside our regular vegetarian Indian menu, with dosas, thalis and curries from north and south.
Easy to reach. We are at 2–3 St Patrick Square in Newington, a short walk from the University of Edinburgh and the Southside, and within easy reach of the Old Town.
If you are planning a bigger get-together, take a look at our tips for group dining in Edinburgh and let us know your numbers when you book, so we can prepare your table.
Diwali Food Traditions Behind the Menu
Many of the dishes on this menu carry a meaning beyond flavour. Here are a few of the traditions that shaped it.
Sweets for good fortune. Sharing sweets during Diwali is a way of wishing others a sweet and prosperous year ahead. That is why our menu ends with two sweet courses, jalebi with rabri followed by paan kulfi.
Dried fruits and nuts. Almonds, cashews and raisins are a symbol of abundance, and they appear in many Diwali dishes and gift boxes. Our mewa kofta brings that tradition into the main course.
Many dishes on one plate. A festive meal is about variety. The thali format reflects the way families lay out several dishes at once during Diwali, so everyone can try a little of everything.
A season of festivals. Diwali arrives soon after Navratri and Dussehra, so for many families October and November are one long celebration. If you joined in earlier in the season, our guide to Navratri covers the food traditions of those nine nights.
Planning Your Diwali Evening in Edinburgh
Diwali brings Edinburgh's Indian community together, and early November fills the city with lights, family gatherings and food. For ideas on how the festival is marked across the city, read our guide to celebrating Diwali in Edinburgh.
A few simple tips for your festive meal:
Book early. The Diwali menu runs only from 6th to 15th November, and Diwali weekend is our busiest time of the season.
Tell us about dietary needs. The festive menu includes dairy (cream, mozzarella, rabri and kulfi), nuts and garlic. If you have allergies or avoid certain ingredients, mention it when you book or speak to your server on the day.
Bring the whole family. A thali is easy to share around the table, and the menu has something for every age, from crunchy chaat to sweet jalebi.
Come hungry. With a welcome drink, two starters, four main-course dishes, dessert and a palate refresher, this is a proper festive feast.
Diwali at Kalpna: Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Diwali menu available?
The Kalpna Diwali menu in Edinburgh runs from Friday 6th November to Sunday 15th November 2026, covering Diwali itself on Sunday 8th November.
How much does the Diwali dinner cost?
The Diwali Thali is £20 per person, and the Set Course for two is £30 for two people.
Is the Diwali menu vegetarian?
Yes. Every dish on the festive menu is vegetarian, as is everything we cook at Kalpna.
Is the Diwali menu vegan?
The festive menu contains dairy, so it is not vegan as served. Our regular menu has dishes marked vegan, and our team can point you towards them when you visit.
Do I need to book?
Booking is strongly recommended, especially for Diwali weekend and for larger groups.
Book Your Diwali Table at Kalpna
The Kalpna Diwali Festive Menu is available from 6th to 15th November 2026. Choose the Diwali Thali at £20 per person or the Set Course for two at £30.
Book your Diwali table online, call us on 0131 667 9890, or find directions on our contact page.
From all of us at Kalpna, Happy Diwali. We look forward to celebrating the festival of lights with you.
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