Diwali Faral is a part of Maharashtrian food culture.
It consists of many delightful sweets and snacks, and it is specially made for the festival of Diwali.
In the following guide, I have shared a list of such traditional delicacies that are prepared as a part of Diwali Faral.
So, if you are someone who wants to learn more about this amazing culture, do check out the guide below.
List Of Diwali Faral
Firstly, let’s quickly take a look at the list of different types of Faral or snacks Maharashtrians make during this festival.
- Besan Ladoo
- Rava Ladoo
- Boondi Ladoo
- Karanji
- Shankarpali
- Tikhat Shev (Spicy Sev)
- Chakli
- Chivda
- Chiroti
- Anarase
- Kadboli
Well, as you can see, these are some of the most popular traditional Diwali snacks from Maharashtrian households.
But these days, people also prepare some additional snacks and sweets along with their conventional varieties.
And some of these snacks include –
- Namakpare
- Gujiya
- Kachori
- Samosas
Then, there are the sweets as well –
- Kaju Katli
- Pedas
- Gulab Jamuns and Rossogullas
As you can see, these are some of the well-known snacks and sweets from different parts of the country.
But they do get served during the festival of Diwali in Maharashtra.
In the next section, though, I have shared a few more insights on the traditional Maharashtrian Faral delicacies.
In case you’re not familiar with this culture, I’m sure the following details will help you in understanding it a little bit better.
So, let’s not waste more time and get started with the guide below.
Types Of Maharashtrian Diwali Faral
1. Besan Ladoo
Besan Ladoo is a delicious recipe made out of Besan, i.e., Roasted Gram Flour.
It is also a part of the quintessential Diwali Faral list, as the Maharashtrian Diwali sweets are incomplete without these sweet ladoos.
As for the making, you don’t need a lot of ingredients to prepare this type of ladoo.
Here’s the list of things you require for this preparation –
- Besan (Gram Flour)
- Powdered Sugar
- Raisins
- Cardamom Powder
- Ghee (Clarified Butter)
- Cashew Nuts
Yes, that’s all you need to prepare these ladoos at home.
If you want to make it more interesting, you can also add different types of dry fruits to it.
Note – These ladoos are also quite common in other North Indian states.
And many communities make them during different festivals.
Shelf Life – 3-4 weeks at room temperature
2. Rava Ladoo
As the name says, Rava Ladoo is a type of ladoo variety that is made using Rava, i.e., Semolina.
It is also one of the most intricate delicacies to make at home, as the dry texture of semolina doesn’t bind well and makes the job a bit tricky.
Still, if you want to try them out, make sure you prepare them in limited quantities.
As for the taste, I prefer them over Besan Ladoo.
Their delicate texture and sweet taste make for a great combination overall.
And of course, you can’t compare them with Boondi Ladoo.
The texture and taste of these two ladoos are quite different from Rava or Besan ladoo.
Now, here is a list of ingredients that you may need for the Rava ladoo preparation –
- Rava (Semolina)
- Powdered Sugar
- Cardamom Powder
- Ghee
- Chopped Dry Fruits
Note – There are many variations to this recipe.
And as per the requirement, you might see some differences in their ingredients list as well.
For eg.,
Some people like to use desiccated coconut in their Rava Ladoo recipe.
However, we don’t use the same whenever we make these ladoos at our home.
But if you want to make them at your home, you can use any of the preparation styles.
Shelf Life – 3-4 weeks at room temperature
3. Boondi Ladoo
Boondi Ladoo is another delicious variety of ladoos.
And these are often made as a part of Faral during the Diwali festival.
These ladoos are also common during other festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Holi, etc.
Boondi Ladoos are easy to make at home.
However, like Rava Ladoo, you may face some difficulties in binding and shaping the fried boondis together.
The only way you can tackle this issue by soaking them in sugar syrup.
Also, you will have to use a considerable amount of Ghee in its mixture, which can lend more stickiness to the recipe.
Alright now, here are the ingredients you can use for this ladoo recipe –
- Besan
- Oil for frying
- Sugar
- Cardamom Powder
- Ghee for binding and shaping
- Dry Fruits (optional)
Apart from these ingredients, you may also use artificial colors to get various shades of color to the boondis.
Although I don’t recommend such food colors, it’s really up to you.
You can use them sparingly if you like.
Regarding their shelf life, they don’t store well like Rava Ladoo or Besan Ladoo.
Therefore, you should think of making them a day or two before Diwali.
Shelf Life – 2-3 days at room temperature and 6-7 days in the refrigerator
4. Karanji
Karanji is another delightful savory-sweet snack from Maharashtra.
It can be made in two different styles, i.e., with fresh coconut and steamed rice flour (ukad) or with dry stuffing mixture and maida dough.
The first method is generally preferred for Ganesh Chaturthi or Sankashti preparations.
And it complements well to Ukadiche Modaks (Steamed Modaks).
The second variety, however, is mostly prepared for Diwali.
There are some exceptions to it as well, but Maharashtrians do make dry Karanjis for Diwali.
Now, here’s the list of ingredients for its preparation –
- Maida (All Purpose Flour)
- Oil for frying
- Ghee
- Powdered Sugar
- Cardamom Powder
- Desiccated Coconut
- Poppy Seeds
- Dry Fruits
- Salt
- Milk (Optional)
So, these are some of the ingredients you need for this recipe.
Note – It’s a slightly different version from Rajasthani Gujiya.
Even though both of them look quite similar, there is a difference in their stuffing mixture.
Gujiyas are generally made with Mawa or Khoya, which is not an essential ingredient for making Maharashtrian Karanjis.
Quick Tip – If you want to make crispy Karanjis, make sure you read these guides on keeping Samosa crispy as well as preventing the formation of the bubbles on the same.
Since both these preparations require a similar dough, I’m sure you will find these guides quite useful.
So, do check them out.
As for the taste, Karanjis offer a combination of savory and sweet taste that comes from its pastry-like cover and sweet stuffing mixture.
Note – You can avoid milk entirely from your recipe if you wish to store them for a long time.
Shelf Life – 3-4 weeks at room temperature
5. Shankarpali
Ah, just like the ladoos, Maharashtrian Diwali is always incomplete without Shankarpalis.
Shankarpalis are also known as Shakarpare in Hindi.
And as you might have guessed it already, it’s quite similar to Namakapare.
The only difference between these two delicacies is the taste.
Shankarpalis or Shakarpare taste sweet, whereas Namakpare is a savory snack.
Talking about the recipe, Shankarpali is not at all difficult to make at home.
And it doesn’t require many ingredients either.
Here’s what you’ll need for its preparation –
- Maida (All Purpose Flour)
- Sugar
- Milk
- Salt
- Oil or Ghee for frying
These are the only things you need for this Maharashtrian Faral snack.
Note – If you fry them in Ghee, they will last longer.
You can also use some Vanilla extract in this recipe, which brings a soothing flavor to the snack.
Regarding the storage life, you can store them for up to a month in an airtight container.
You don’t have to keep them in the refrigerator for prolonged shelf life.
You can keep them outside, and they will do just fine without any issue.
Shelf Life – 3-4 weeks at room temperature
6. Chakli
Chakli is another must-have snack for Maharashtrian Diwali Faral.
It is generally made with Bhajani flour and some spices.
Note – Bhajani flour is an essential ingredient for this recipe, as it enhances the overall taste of this delicacy.
You can also make this recipe with other flours, but there would be a stark difference between their taste.
Alright, here’s a list of ingredients you need for chaklis –
- Bhajani Flour
- Sesame Seeds
- Carrom Seeds
- Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder
- Turmeric Powder
- Salt
- Oil
- Water
Quick Tip – If you don’t want to make your Chaklis from scratch, you can also use readymade flour mixes for the preparation.
And if you need a recommendation, you can go for Suhana’s chakli bhajani.
I have used their bhajani flour many times, and they are pretty consistent with their quality.
Meanwhile, the chaklis can be stored for many days, and they retain their crunchy texture for a long time if you keep them in an airtight container.
Shelf Life – 4-5 weeks at room temperature
7. Tikhat Shev (Spicy Sev)
Tikhat Shev is something that is prepared along with the chaklis.
Since both these preparations require nearly the same ingredients and tools, it’s easy to prepare them at the same time.
Here’s what you will need for this recipe –
- Gram Flour or Bhajani Flour
- Carrom Seeds
- Turmeric Powder
- Red Chilli Powder
- Asafoetida
- Salt
- Oil
- Water
As you can see above, there isn’t much difference in the ingredients we use for both chaklis and sev.
And more importantly, you can also make them using the same Bhajani flour.
Similar to chaklis, you can store these spicy sev for a long duration.
Shelf Life – 4-5 weeks at room temperature
8. Chivda
Chivda or Poha Chivda is an integral part of the Diwali Faral list.
And like Chaklis and Shankarpalis, this delicacy is a must for the festival of lights.
As for the preparation, it can be made in different ways.
Many communities in Maharashtra have their own traditional recipes to prepare this dish for Diwali.
So, there is no right or wrong in any recipe you may come across on the internet or otherwise.
Meanwhile, here’s what you will need for the traditional recipe –
- Poha (Flattened Rice)
- Roasted Chana Dal
- Dry Coconut
- Peanuts
- Curry Leaves
- Green Chillies
- Turmeric Powder
- Mustard Seeds
- Fennel Seeds
- Sugar
- Salt
- Oil
Note – You can also transform the recipe by using corn flakes.
Chivda stays fresh for a month, so make sure you keep it in an airtight container or jar.
If you let the air get inside the container, the Pohas will turn hard and chewy.
Also, other ingredients will lose their texture over the period.
Shelf Life – 3-4 weeks at room temperature
9. Chiroti
Chiroti or Chirote is another Maharashtrian sweet that is made during the festival of Diwali.
It is not as popular as the chaklis and chivdas, but many communities still make this delicacy for their Diwali Faral.
List of ingredients –
- Maida (All Purpose flour)
- Rava (Semolina)
- Rice Flour
- Powdered Sugar
- Ghee
- Salt
- Oil
- Water
You can store them for 10-12 days in an airtight container.
Shelf Life – 10-12 days at room temperature
10. Anarse
Anarsa is another typical Maharashtrian snack for Diwali.
It is also made in some of the Northern states in India.
And unlike most of the Diwali Faral snacks, it’s the most time-consuming snack.
It takes at least three days to prepare this delicacy, as you need to soak the rice grains for these many days.
Here’s what you will need to prepare Maharashtrian Anarse –
- Rice
- Jaggery
- Ghee
- Poppy Seeds
- Oil for frying
You don’t need anything else for this recipe.
But it’s one of those recipes that need a lot of experience and practice.
It’s certainly not easy to make at home.
You can store Anarse for 10-15 days in an airtight container.
Shelf Life – 10-15 days
Other Popular Sweets And Snacks For Maharashtrian Diwali Faral
Here are some of the other delicacies that are prepared during Diwali in different parts of the state –
- Kadboli
- Bhakarwadi
- Moong Ladoo
- Lasun Chivda
In the next section, I have shared a few tips for buying Diwali Faral.
I hope you find them useful.
Tips To For Buying Diwali Faral From Stores And Small Businesses
There are a couple of things you need to remember while purchasing Faral during this festival.
It might be a convenient option to get these sweets and snacks from outside, but you might end up having sub-standard Faral for Diwali.
And if you wish to avoid such a situation, do read the tips I’ve shared below.
1. Buy It From A Reputed Seller Or Store.
That’s correct!
There is no point in looking for cheap deals or discounts when you buy Faral for Diwali.
If you do, you know what to expect in the end.
So, don’t waste your time and effort in searching for such options.
Instead, I’d suggest you go to a reputed Maharashtrian sweets and snacks shop a week or two before Diwali and check whether they offer any delicacies for Diwali.
If you are in Mumbai, you will find several places like Dadar and Lalbaug, where many sellers make Faral available for Diwali.
And if you live outside Mumbai or Maharashtra, you can look for the shops near your place that sell such products during festive times.
2. Look For Homemade Options
If you don’t enjoy Faral from the stores, the best option is to look for small businesses that offer these delicacies.
Many homemakers prepare and sell delicious Faral/snacks during Diwali and other such festivals.
And as you know, these homemade options are way better than any snacks shop.
Also, you can trust them for the quality and taste, which may or may not be there when you buy it from the stores.
3. Avoid Packaged Faral
Even though it’s from a reputed shop or mall, you should avoid getting packaged Faral for Diwali.
The reason is the use of preservatives!
Many times the makers use different preservatives to make their products last for a long time.
And those ingredients are certainly not great for consumption.
So, if it’s possible, try to avoid Faral that comes in an attractive package.
Moreover, you can also check for the ingredients used in such preparations.
You will probably find this detailed information at the back of these packages.
4. Avoid Food Colors-based Faral
Yes, it’s not worth it!
Similar to preservatives, the food colors are artificial ingredients.
And they would probably cause more harm to you than anything else.
Also, the Faral made with such artificial food colors doesn’t look pleasing to the eyes.
It just looks different and artificial!
So, whenever you go out shopping, you will have to check whether they have used such colors or not.
And if you are going to place an advanced order to any homemaker or shop, make sure you request them to avoid food colors in your Faral preparations.
Alright, so keep these things in mind while purchasing Diwali Faral from a store or ordering it from a homemaker or small business.
Over To You
Well, as you can see, there aren’t too many sweets or snacks in this Diwali Faral list.
And that’s the beauty of Maharashtrian Faral!
So, what are you waiting for?
Go ahead and make these delicious snacks for your friends and family.
Happy Diwali!
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