Diwali 2026 ended a week ago, but the numbers coming in this week tell a story of their own. India did not just celebrate the festival of lights, it ate its way through it, and the country’s sweet makers, delivery apps and chocolate brands all ended the season with full order books, from a 49 percent jump in festive sweet sales at Haldiram’s to a single Hyderabad order worth nearly Rs 42,000.
The figures, released by brands and platforms over the past few days, show a market growing in two directions at once. Traditional mithai is selling faster than ever, and shoppers are also spending more on premium chocolate hampers and healthier, jaggery-based sweets.
Haldiram’s leads the traditional rush
Haldiram’s, one of India’s largest packaged sweets and snacks companies, reported a 49 percent year-on-year increase in festive sweet sales. Demand was led by old favourites, kaju katli, motichoor laddoo and barfi, along with festive gift hampers.
“This Diwali, we have witnessed continued consumer preference for traditional Indian sweets, reflecting the enduring cultural and emotional significance of mithai during the festive season,” said Tushar Mehta, vice-president, growth and marketing, at Haldiram’s.
Sweets remain the default festive gift in Indian homes, and this year shoppers bought them earlier, in larger packs and in greater numbers than last year.
Kaju katli is India’s favourite sweet
If one sweet defined Diwali 2026, it was kaju katli. Swiggy reported a 10.7 percent year-on-year rise in food delivery orders during the three-day festive period from November 6 to 8, compared with October 18 to 20 last year, and kaju katli emerged as the most-ordered sweet on the platform.
Motichoor laddoo came second, followed by rasgulla and gulab jamun. Kaju katli led orders across Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur and Hyderabad, and the platform processed an average of 97,545 food orders every hour during the three days.
The scale of individual orders was striking too. On November 6, a customer in Hyderabad ordered 57 packets of assorted sweets worth Rs 41,895 in a single order. On Diwali day itself, a Mumbai customer placed an order worth Rs 41,772 for seven curated hampers of assorted sweets.
Premium chocolate and gifting go upmarket
While traditional mithai dominated volumes, the premium end of the market had its own boom. Manam Chocolate, which specialises in Indian craft chocolate, reported 75 percent growth in festive sales compared with the same period last year. Shoppers also spent more per gift, with demand shifting from an average price point of Rs 2,000 last year to the Rs 3,000 to 3,500 range this year, according to founder Chaitanya Muppala. Its curated celebration hampers recorded the strongest demand.
Mondelez India, which makes Cadbury, launched its Milky Mithai range, blending chocolate with the taste of classic Indian sweets. The company’s India business recorded revenue growth of over 20 percent year-on-year in the third quarter of 2026, while its chocolate business registered a 2.8 percent increase in volume and mix.
The healthier sweet tooth
Not every shopper reached for the same old box of sweets. Healthier alternatives had a strong season as well. Jaggery and date-based mithais accounted for close to half of festive mithai sales on Amazon India.
Natural sugar substitutes such as stevia and monk fruit, along with gluten-free and no-maida snacks, recorded 1.5 times year-on-year growth on the platform. “This festive season, we are seeing customers indulge in a wider range of healthier snacking options alongside traditional festive favourites,” said Srikant Sree Ram, director, everyday essentials, Amazon India.
Dining out and quick commerce join the party
The festive rush was not limited to what people ate at home. Reservations on Swiggy’s Dineout platform rose 38.5 percent on Diwali day compared with last year, as families chose to celebrate at restaurants as well.
Quick commerce had a bumper season too. Swiggy Instamart recorded a 162 percent year-on-year rise in party-planning orders during Diwali, while orders for munchies and snacks rose 42 percent.
Taken together, the figures point to a festive economy that is bigger, more organised and more premium than a year ago. Traditional sweets still rule the season, but they now share the table with craft chocolate, healthier mithai and restaurant dinners booked on an app.
FAQs
Which sweet sold the most this Diwali?
Kaju katli was the most-ordered sweet on Swiggy during the Diwali weekend of November 6 to 8, followed by motichoor laddoo, rasgulla and gulab jamun.
How much did Haldiram’s festive sweet sales grow?
Haldiram’s reported a 49 percent year-on-year increase in festive sweet sales, led by kaju katli, motichoor laddoo, barfi and gift hampers.
How much did Swiggy orders grow during Diwali 2026?
Swiggy reported a 10.7 percent year-on-year rise in food delivery orders during November 6 to 8, processing an average of 97,545 orders per hour.
What was the biggest single sweet order this Diwali?
A Hyderabad customer ordered 57 packets of assorted sweets worth Rs 41,895 on November 6, while a Mumbai customer ordered seven sweet hampers worth Rs 41,772 on Diwali day.
Are healthier sweets gaining ground in India?
Yes. Jaggery and date-based mithais made up close to half of festive mithai sales on Amazon India, and stevia, monk fruit, gluten-free and no-maida options grew 1.5 times year-on-year.
Diwali 2026 may be over, but for India’s sweet makers, the season’s numbers are the real celebration.
