TL;DR: Diwali 2026 is on Sunday 8 November, so most Hyderabad offices will celebrate between Monday 2 and Friday 6 November. Expect ₹600 to ₹900 per plate for a proper celebration menu with starters, biryani, curries and festive sweets, or ₹350 to ₹500 for a simpler team lunch format. Vendors' calendars for that week fill by mid-October. Lock your date, headcount and veg ratio now. Want the menu and a quote in 24 hours? Book Diwali catering →
Why the timing matters this year
Because Diwali falls on a Sunday, there is no natural weekday holiday around which offices stagger their parties. Almost every company in HITEC City, Gachibowli, Madhapur and the Financial District will want the same three or four working days. Kitchens, serving staff and delivery slots are finite. The teams that book in September and early October get their preferred date and time; the ones that call in the last week of October get what is left.
What a Diwali office party costs per plate in Hyderabad
| Format | Per-plate range | What it includes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Festive team lunch | ₹350 – ₹500 | 1 starter, biryani + 2 curries, breads, raita, 1 sweet | Teams of 30–150 celebrating during lunch |
| Diwali celebration | ₹600 – ₹900 | 2–3 starters, 2 biryanis, 3 curries, breads, salads, 2 sweets, buffet setup and serving staff | Company-wide evening parties, 80–500 guests |
| Premium client Diwali | ₹900 – ₹1,500 | Live counters, curated Mughlai menu, table service, premium desserts | Client and leadership dinners |
Prices are for Mughlai Magic packages; other Hyderabad caterers land in broadly similar bands. One-off events start at 10 plates. GST is invoiced separately.
Three sample menus
Menu A: Festive team lunch (₹350 – ₹500 per plate)
- Starter: Paneer Tikka (veg) and Chicken Tikka (non-veg)
- Main: Vegetable Biryani and Chicken Biryani
- Curry: Dal Makhani and Kadai Chicken
- Breads: Tandoori Roti and Naan
- Sides: Raita, green salad
- Sweet: Gulab Jamun
Menu B: Diwali celebration (₹600 – ₹900 per plate)
- Starters: Paneer Tikka, Seekh Kebab, Shami Kebab
- Mains: Vegetable Biryani, Mutton Biryani or Chicken Biryani
- Curries: Shahi Paneer, Dal Makhani, Butter Chicken
- Breads: Tandoori Roti, Naan
- Sides: Raita, Jeera Rice, salad
- Sweets: Phirni and Gulab Jamun
Menu C: Premium client Diwali (₹900 – ₹1,500 per plate)
- Live kebab counter: Galouti Kebab, Chicken Tikka, Paneer Tikka
- Mains: Mutton Biryani and Vegetable Biryani served at the table
- Curries: Mutton Rogan Josh, Chicken Korma, Shahi Paneer, Dal Makhani
- Breads: assorted tandoori breads
- Desserts: Sheer Khurma, Kheer, Gulab Jamun
All non-veg is halal-certified. Pure vegetarian and Jain versions of every menu are available, cooked and packed separately.
Keep the spread veg-friendly
Diwali is the one office event where the vegetarian share of guests rises sharply, because many people who normally eat non-veg avoid it during the festival. A safe planning ratio for Diwali week is 65:35 veg-to-non-veg, higher if your office has a large Gujarati, Marwari or Jain population. Order a couple of extra veg starters rather than extra non-veg; leftover veg is easier to redistribute.
Sweets and add-ons
- Sweets on the buffet: Phirni, Kheer, Sheer Khurma and Gulab Jamun are the festive staples on a Mughlai menu. Two is the right number for a buffet; three if the party runs into the evening.
- Dry-snack hampers: a small box of dry fruits and a sweet per employee is a popular add-on for teams who are also giving Diwali gifts. Ask your caterer whether they can pack these alongside the main order so you have one delivery and one invoice.
- Tea and coffee service: often forgotten for evening parties. Add it if the event runs past 7 PM.
Booking timeline for a 6 November party
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 8 weeks out (mid-September) | Fix the date, venue (office floor, terrace or external hall) and rough headcount. Shortlist two or three caterers. |
| 6 weeks out (late September) | Send the brief: headcount, veg ratio, budget band, any Jain or allergen needs. Ask for menus and quotes. |
| 4 weeks out (early to mid-October) | Confirm the vendor, sign the quote, raise the PO. This is the realistic deadline for getting your first-choice slot. |
| 2 weeks out (late October) | Final headcount within 10 percent. Confirm delivery time, gate-pass details and the on-site coordinator. |
| 3 days out | Final numbers locked. Reconfirm serving staff count and setup time. |
| Event day | Caterer arrives 60 to 90 minutes before service for buffet setup. |
If you are reading this after mid-October, call rather than email. Slots on 5 and 6 November go first; 2 and 3 November usually have more room.
Lead times and minimums
- Under 50 guests: 24 to 48 hours is normally enough, but not during Diwali week. Give a week.
- 100 or more guests with a custom menu: 5 to 7 working days minimum, more in the first week of November.
- Minimum one-off order: 10 plates.
How Mughlai Magic handles Diwali week
We cook everything at our central kitchen at The Skyview 10, Hitech City Main Road, which puts most of the IT corridor within a short drive at a time when cross-city traffic is at its worst. Diwali parties, Eid lunches and year-end celebrations are our most-booked corporate events, so the festive menus above are ready to go. One coordinator handles your event from quote to cleanup, and you get a single GST invoice.
Call +91 9049392092, WhatsApp the corporate desk at +91 8600867860, or email hello@mughlaimagic.com with your date and headcount.
