Diwali in Geelong 2026: Where to Celebrate, Dine and Order Catering
Diwali, the festival of lights, is the biggest celebration of the year for Indian families, and in 2026 the main day falls on Sunday 8 November. The five days run from Dhanteras on Friday 6 November to Bhai Dooj on Tuesday 10 November. If you're celebrating Diwali in Geelong, this is our guide to a festive dinner by the bay, Diwali catering for your party, and food for a full house at home.
What Diwali means at our table
Diwali is about light winning over darkness, new beginnings, and family. In Punjab, where Chef Manpreet Sekhon grew up, it means diyas on every step, fireworks, new clothes, sweets passed between neighbours, and a table so full there's barely room for the plates. That's the feeling we cook for every Diwali at Eastern Spice: generous, shared and a little bit over the top.
Diwali dinner in Geelong: book a table by the bay
We're open on the Diwali weekend: Friday 6, Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November from 5pm, and Monday 9 November. (Like every week, we're closed on Tuesday, so Bhai Dooj dinner is one to plan for Monday or the weekend before.) Diwali weekend is one of our busiest of the year, so book your table early, especially for groups and window seats facing Corio Bay.
The easiest way to feed the whole family
For four or more, the Chef's Table Banquet ($69 a person) brings a festive spread to the whole table: samosa, chicken tikka, papadum, butter chicken, daal, palak paneer, rice, naan and gulab jamun to finish. There's a vegetarian and vegan option, which matters for the many families who keep Diwali vegetarian.
Vegetarian dishes for a Diwali feast
If you're ordering à la carte, the dishes that feel most like a celebration are paneer tikka from the tandoor, palak paneer, our House Black Daal slow-cooked for 24 hours, veg biryani and Kashmiri naan stuffed with almond, raisin and coconut. See our top vegetarian dishes or the full menu.
Diwali catering in Geelong for your party
Hosting family, friends or the whole office? Our Diwali catering covers home parties, community events and workplace celebrations across Geelong, the Bellarine and the Surf Coast. Every buffet package includes naan, rice, raita and salad:
Silver: 2 starters, 2 mains, from 25 guests, $29 a person
Gold: 3 starters, 3 mains, from 25 guests, $34 a person
Diamond: 4 starters, 3 mains, from 35 guests, $37 a person
Premium: 4 starters, 4 mains, from 35 guests, $40 a person
Platinum: 5 starters, 4 mains and a dessert, from 35 guests, $45 a person
Add a dessert from $2.50 a person, or an extra starter or main for $3 a person.
Make it an event with live food stations
Nothing says Diwali party like a live chaat counter. Our stations are cooked in front of your guests and run for 3.5 hours including setup: chaat counter, tikki and samosa chaat, pav bhaji, or noodles and Manchurian ($350 + $4.99 a person each), and a lassi counter ($350 + $3.50 a person). Kids love the popcorn or cotton candy station ($250).
Setup and service staff
Choose pickup, delivery or full service. A basic buffet setup with tables, tablecloths and chafing dishes is $150, or $299 with service staff (one staff member per 25 guests). Silver cutlery and ceramic plates are available for $6 a person.
Bulk trays for Diwali at home
If you're cooking some dishes yourself and want help with the rest, our bulk orders come in 2kg, 4kg and 5kg trays: butter chicken, dal makhni, biryani, paneer, tandoori starters, chaat and desserts. Order ahead for the Diwali weekend, because trays book out.
Book early for Diwali 2026
Diwali dates fill fast, for both tables and catering. To lock in your plans:
Book a Diwali dinner table at Eastern Spice, 1 Bellerine Street, Eastern Beach
Send your date, guest numbers and venue for a catering quote, or WhatsApp 0430 458 703
Call (03) 5221 9544 for bulk trays and phone-ordered pickup
Shubh Deepavali from all of us at Eastern Spice. May your home be full of light, family and very good food.