What We’re Grateful For This Diwali

From our veranda

to yours,

Subh Diwali!

Every Diwali, we take a moment to pause amidst the twinkling lights, the aroma of ghee and cardamom, and the chatter of friends and family — to ask ourselves one simple question:

What are we grateful for this year?

This Diwali feels special. Maybe it’s because the air feels lighter, or because we’ve had the chance to see our community come alive again in ways that remind us of home. Or maybe it’s because Diwali, at its heart, is about hope — the victory of light over darkness, and good over evil — not just around us, but within us too.

Grateful for our growing community

Just yesterday, we took a little evening drive through Nirimba Fields to check out the Diwali decorations — and it filled us with so much joy and delight. Families with kids were out, admiring the lights, taking photos, eating snacks, laughing together. For a moment, it felt like we were walking through a mela back in India. The kind that fills you with warmth and belonging. We’re so grateful to live in a place where the Indian community is growing, thriving, and celebrating together.

Grateful for our regulars

To our regular guests — the ones who cheer for us, tag us, send us kind messages, and bring their friends in — you are our motivation. Your support gives us the courage to keep pushing boundaries, to keep experimenting, to keep challenging the idea of what Indian food “should” be. You make us brave.

Grateful for our team

We’re equally grateful for our incredible team — the people who show up every day with heart, hustle, and humour. They’re the ones who say “yes” when we come up with yet another wild idea, the ones who make our kitchen feel like home.

Grateful for new traditions

And of course — we’re especially grateful for Halwa Puri Chana.

This year, we started a new Diwali tradition at Veranda — serving this trio of sweetness, warmth, and comfort. It instantly took us back to our childhood mornings in India — waking up to the smell of halwa cooking in ghee, the puff of puris frying, and the sound of temple bells in the background. It’s a memory we’ll continue to recreate every year — because some traditions are worth holding close.

Grateful for the little lights

Lastly, this year, we’re grateful for the quiet moments — the cup of chai before service, the laughter in the kitchen, the soft music after closing.

Diwali reminds us that “light over darkness” isn’t just about lamps — it’s about choosing kindness, connection, and calm even on hard days. It’s about being gentle with ourselves when the world feels overwhelming, and remembering that healing, like Diwali, happens one small light at a time.

As we celebrate today, we wish you peace, light, and the courage to keep choosing the good — both around you and within you.

Subh Diwali from all of us at Veranda Indian.

With love,

Tavishi & Abhi