Mamta's Kitchen

This family run recipe site is intended to be a 'living' cookbook, constantly updated and refreshed. Enjoy our great selection of Indian and international recipes, sumptuous meal ideas and cooking tips and visit our discussion forum to ask questions and share feedback.

Since the site went live back in May 2001, we have had a total of 30186953 visits. Of those, 5922 were yesterday and 5071 so far today!

Recipes of the week: Squid Masala Curry With Coconut •

Upcoming festivals: Karva Chauth • Hoi Ashtami • Dhan Teras • Diwali or Deepawali • Kali Pooja • Bhayya-Bhai-Dooj • Guru Nanak Dev ji Birthday •

News: Diwali or Deepawali (4th November 2021) - 13th October, 2021

Diwali this year is on the 4th of November

It is one of the main Hindu festivals that is celebrated all over India.

Both words. Deepawali and Diwali mean 'a row of lamps'. They are made of two Hindi words each;

Deepawali = deepak, an earthenware lamp + wali=a row of.

Diwali = diwa, an earthenware lamp and walii=a row of.

Diwali is a Hindus festival, a festival of lights. It is one of the biggest and grandest festivals of India.

There are many stories about Diwali celebrations;

It is celebrated to mark the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya, with his wife Sita, after an exile of 14 years imposed by his father (see the epic of Ramayana). He defeated Ravana, the evil king of Lanka, who had abducted his wife Sita. On this day, he returned to Ayodhya with his wife and younger brother Lakhshaman, to claim his Kingdom. His praja, his people, celebrated his return by lighting rows upon rows of ghee filled earthen lamps all over the city, a celebration of victory of good over evil. The day prior to Diwali is known as Choti or little Diwali, celebrated by lighting only 25 lamps. Hindus believe that on this day, the Monkey God Hanuman arrived in Ayodhya to inform the people that Rama, Sita and Lakshman were arriving the following day. So they held minor celebrations in anticipation.