Diwali is a time when traditional sweets play a key part. Celebrated throughout India, Diwali is a time of good triumphing over evil and brings people together. We’ve listed popular Diwali sweets.

Made by frying fermented batter. This creates crispy spirals that are soaked in warm sugar syrup.

A traditional Bengali sweet made with fresh paneer (chhena). These are boiled in sugary syrup creating soft, spongey and juicy balls.

Made using khoya (dried milk), flour and cardamom and saffron. The sweet is created by frying dough balls in oil and then soaking them in a light sugar solution scented with roses and saffron.

A sweet originating in West Bengal. This has soft paneer dumplings in a thick, creamy milk with cardamom.

This popular sweet from Maharashtra is a crescent-shaped pasty filled with sweet coconut, jaggery and dry fruits. The pastry is flaky.

This is a rich and soft sweet from Gujarat and Rajasthan. It has a nutty texture due to being slow cooked in ghee with gram flour. Almonds and pistachio are added on top after mixing with the sugary syrup.

This sweet is made using besan (roasted gram flour), ghee and sugar. Due to its rich and nutty taste it’s a popular sweet to eat during festivities. Often seen as a symbol of unity.

A luxurious sweet from Hyderabad. This uses fried slices of bread served with a thick rabri (thickened milk).

This diamond shape sweet is made using ground cashew nuts and cardamom. This reflects the talent of Indian sweet making and is often used as a gift during Diwali.

This sweet is made using small drops of gram flour (boondi) soaked in sugary syrup and formed into small round balls. This is a sweet associated with happiness and prosperity.