Step into the forest with Mumbai’s original residents where Diwali is about harvest, community, and food from the land
A forest trek organised by Go Hallu Hallu
If the usual routine of diyas, mithai platters, and card parties is starting to feel predictable, celebrating Diwali like the indigenous tribes of Mumbai might be your cue. Beyond Mumbai’s concrete skyline, in the forested folds of Aarey, indigenous communities like the Warlis mark the festival in a way that predates mythology and temple rituals.
A typical Warli meal
For them, Diwali is a celebration of the earth’s generosity, the joy of the first harvest, a communal feast, and people’s bond with land, food, and one another. There’s no emphasis on new clothes or elaborate decor; the focus is entirely on community. Families visit one another, share meals, and exchange stories of the harvest. Folk songs and dance performances unfold spontaneously.
In Warli homes, the celebration marks the harvesting of legumes, grains, and vegetables that have been nurtured through the monsoon. Think chawali (black-eyed beans), karande (wild legumes foraged from forest edges), and new rice — all foods that embody the idea of abundance and renewal.
The Diwali feast
While Diwali in the city is all about kaju katli and laddoos, Diwali in a Warli village smells of earthy legumes simmering on a wood-fired chulha. The menu is simple, hearty, and hyper-local, and reflects the season and the soil. So, what’s cooking?
God Bhakar: A sweet flatbread made from freshly harvested grains and jaggery. Served hot off the griddle, it’s both comfort food and an offering.
Chawali Bhaji: Stir-fried black-eyed beans symbolise fertility and the cycle of growth.
Chicken Ambat: A tangy, slow-cooked chicken curry, often made for communal meals, that uses seasonal spices and forest-foraged ingredients.
Karande Curry: A dish rarely found in city kitchens, it’s made with the first sprouting legumes of the season, cooked into a rich, nutty stew.
How to join in
You can join in cooking traditional delicacies like, learn about harvest rituals, and witness how the Warlis celebrate Diwali. It’s a rare chance to see Diwali as it once was.
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