Sipu Jha
This Diwali, Emirates has announced plans to bring the festival of lights to the skies with a thoughtfully curated celebration that spans every aspect of the travel experience — from traditional Indian sweets served onboard across all cabin classes to regional entertainment options and festive dishes in premium lounges, both in Dubai and abroad. The airline’s Diwali offering will run from October 17 to 24, 2025, covering nine key Indian cities and select Emirates lounges across continents.
Diwali onboard Emirates flights across 9 Indian routes
To honour the spirit of Diwali, Emirates is rolling out a complete cultural experience for passengers travelling between Dubai and nine Indian cities: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kochi, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Kolkata, and Mumbai.Onboard Dining Highlights:
- Economy and Premium Economy Class passengers will be served motichoor laddu alongside their hot meals. This traditional Indian sweet, made from fried chickpea flour pearls soaked in fragrant sugar syrup, is infused with cardamom and saffron and garnished with pistachios.
- In First and Business Class, the culinary experience is elevated with kaju pista rolls — a rich, creamy dessert featuring rose-flavoured cashew and pistachio filling, enhanced with dried fruits and nuts, and wrapped in edible silver leaves.
These onboard menus are designed not just to satisfy cravings but to connect travellers to the authentic flavours of Diwali, no matter where they are in the world.
Premium lounge offerings: From savouries to signature cocktails
Emirates’ celebration extends beyond the aircraft and into its First and Business Class lounges at Dubai International Airport (DXB), where travellers can indulge in a variety of festive Indian snacks and desserts.Savoury selections:
- Onion kachoris and paneer potli samosas, both served with tamarind and mint chutneys, headline the savoury offerings.
Dessert highlights:
- Mango sandwiches
- Balushahi – a deep-fried traditional Indian doughnut soaked in sugar syrup
- Kesar rasgullas – soft, spongy balls made from chhena (Indian cottage cheese) soaked in saffron-infused syrup
- Gajar ka halwa – a sweet carrot pudding slow-cooked with ghee, milk and sugar
Bespoke beverages:
- First Class lounge guests can enjoy a specially crafted Spicy Saffron Martini or a Chai Chat Latte mocktail.
- Business Class travellers are treated to a refreshing Elderflower Gin Fizz or a Berry Basil Splash mocktail.
Beyond Dubai, Emirates lounges in Cape Town and Johannesburg, cities with a significant Indian diaspora, will also join in the Diwali celebration. Offerings here include classic Indian desserts such as gulab jamun, traditional rice pudding, and mango lassi, ensuring that the festive touch extends across continents.
Entertainment tailored for the festival
To complement the festive cuisine and ambience, Emirates is turning its award-winning inflight entertainment system, ice, into a Diwali-themed media library for the week.Movie selections:
- 167 Indian films across genres, including recent Bollywood releases like:
- Laapataa Ladies
- Crazxy
- Jigra
- The Lost Girl
- Apurva
Regional cinema:
- Films are available in nine Indian languages:
Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, Bengali, and Gujarati
Television and music:
- 14 Indian TV shows, including popular titles like The Traitors India and Love, Life, Lafde with Zakir Khan
- 40 Indian music albums and playlists, covering various genres to suit the mood and spirit of Diwali
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