COSMO Oxford will celebrate Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, with a specially created menu that honours the traditions of family, unity, and shared joy.
The celebration will take place on Monday 20 October, during the five-day festival, offering diners the chance to experience a vibrant culinary journey inspired by Indian and Nepalese flavours.
With Oxford home to an estimated 2,600 Hindu residents and between 6,000 and 7,000 across Oxfordshire, COSMO’s Diwali celebration aims to bring together the city’s diverse communities through food, culture, and conversation.
The festival feast will begin with a selection of classic starters such as onion bhaji, vegetable pakora, and Indian-style chicken wings.
Main courses will showcase the depth and diversity of Indian cuisine, including Kashmiri lamb rogan josh, chicken biryani, chicken tikka masala, and korma chicken, alongside vegetarian favourites such as tarka dal, chickpea curry, Bombay aloo, and vegetable pulao rice. Freshly baked butter and garlic naan will be served with each dish.
Seafood lovers can enjoy prawns jalfrezi, mixed seafood curry, and Madras-style fish curry, while desserts such as rice pudding, laddu, and gulab jamun promise a sweet finale.
Reflecting COSMO’s Nepalese heritage, the menu will also feature traditional dumplings, Nepali-style chicken curry, and whole grilled chicken with piri piri or BBQ sauce. To refresh the palate, guests can choose from cooling drinks including mango and banana lassi.
The event is designed not just as a feast, but as a celebration of inclusivity and cultural understanding, recognising the many Hindu members of COSMO’s own team as well as the wider community.
A COSMO Oxford General Manager said:
“Diwali is about light, unity and togetherness – and we’re delighted to celebrate it by sharing food and culture with the whole community.”
The Diwali menu will be available for one day only on Monday 20 October 2025, inviting locals and visitors alike to mark one of the world’s most colourful festivals right in the heart of Oxford.
