Diwali 2026 arrives on Sunday, November 8, with the five-day festival running November 6-10. If you’re hosting family, friends, or coworkers anywhere around Chatham or Morris County, the food is the centerpiece. The hosts who enjoy their own party are the ones who ordered it. Here’s how we help families plan Diwali at Sonny’s Indian Kitchen, from a takeout dinner for four to a full catered celebration for a hundred.
When Is Diwali 2026 and When Should You Order?
The main night, Lakshmi Puja, is Sunday, November 8, 2026. For catering orders, reach out at least one to two weeks ahead. Diwali week is the busiest catering stretch of our year, and trays are confirmed first-come. For takeout on Diwali weekend, order online earlier in the day; we’re open Sunday from 3:00 to 9:00 PM at 225 Main St in downtown Chatham.
A Classic Diwali Menu, Course by Course
Diwali food leans festive and generous: fried snacks to greet guests, rich curries at the table, and sweets to end the night. A spread we prepare again and again:
- To greet guests: Vegetable Samosas, Aloo Tikki Chaat, and Paneer Tikka off the grill.
- Vegetarian mains: Palak Paneer, Dal Makhani, and Chana Masala form the festival table’s backbone.
- Non-veg mains (all our meat is halal): Sonny’s Famous Butter Chicken and Chicken Tikka Masala.
- Rice and breads: Vegetable Biryani, steamed basmati, and plenty of garlic naan. Plan 1.5 pieces per person.
- Sweets: Gulab Jamun, warm and syrup-soaked, is the non-negotiable Diwali dessert; add kheer cups for variety.
Hosting a vegetarian or vegan crowd? Eight of our entrees are fully vegan. See the vegetarian & vegan guide for the complete list.
How Much Food for a Diwali Party?
The short version: 2-3 appetizer pieces per person, one entree portion per person spread across one curry per 4-5 guests, a rice tray per 10-12 guests, 1.5 naan each, and 1-2 sweets per guest. A "Diwali at home" order for 10-15 usually means two appetizer platters, three entree half trays, a rice tray, 20 naan, and a dessert tray. For the full math, use our catering portions guide.
Office Diwali Parties in Morris County
Diwali lunches have become a fixture at offices from Florham Park to Summit and Livingston. Corporate crowds skew more vegetarian than hosts expect, so we recommend a 50/50 veg split, every tray labeled mild / medium / hot, and samosas in halves for the buffet line. Call us with your headcount and date and we’ll build a per-person quote; the details are on the catering page.
Prefer Takeout? Build a Diwali Dinner for 4-6
No trays needed for a small family night: two appetizers, three entrees (say Butter Chicken, Palak Paneer, Chana Masala), a biryani, four naan, and a double order of Gulab Jamun covers 4-6 people generously. Order pickup or delivery from our menu. Since we’re BYOB, a bottle of Riesling or a crisp lager rounds out the table.
Book Your Diwali Order
We cater Diwali celebrations from 10 to 200+ guests across Chatham, Madison, Short Hills, and greater Morris County. Call 973-507-9462, email sonnysindiankitchen@gmail.com, or see the catering page for lead times and pricing. From all of us at Sonny’s, Happy Diwali.