This year, the celebration of Diwali lands on Sunday, November 12, with festivities starting Friday, November 10 and lasting through Wednesday, November 15. It’s a festival in which oil lamps called diyas are lit, pujas are performed, homes are decorated, and fireworks are shot off, but it’s also a time to gather with family and friends to share meals.
More than ever, Diwali is becoming a celebration that transcends the home and is more often celebrated in restaurants and cultural spots around town. “A billion and a half people recognize this holiday; it’s about time that it’s becoming more recognized,” says Salil Mehta, owner of Indian restaurant Kebab aur Sharab on the Upper West Side.
“There certainly is a larger trend in the market,” says Surbhi Sahni, owner of Tagmo in the Seaport, noting that this year, New York City public schools are closed on Friday to celebrate.
Read on for 10 more restaurants, in addition to theirs, that match the celebratory mood and can accommodate extended families where guests are invited to linger.
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