On Friday, 10 October 2025, Condé Nast Traveller as soon as once more welcomed Bollywood stars, musicians, and entrepreneurs to the annual Diwali celebration, in partnership with Cartier. This 12 months, the occasion – which has change into one in every of London’s most sought-after invites – came about at one of many capital’s most glamorous accommodations, The Dorchester, which was decked out in all of its glitziest finery for the event.
Diwali, often known as the Festival of Lights, is the celebration of sunshine over darkness. Each 12 months, associates and households mild up their properties as a means of symbolising new beginnings and the facility of fine over evil, coming collectively to have a good time.
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Guests arriving at The Dorchester – dressed in their sparkliest apparel, after all – have been greeted by Cartier bellboys, who ushered them into the doorway the place a whole bunch of candles set the scene. The visitor record was as star-studded as ever, with VIPs together with movie stars, musicians, entrepreneurs and fashions. We noticed Anoushka Shankar, Arooj Aftab, Neelam Gill, Akshata Murty, Rishi Sunak, Nic Kaufmann, Princess Gauravi Kumari and lots of extra dazzling in attractive ensembles as they floated alongside the hallway into the ballroom.
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Guests sipped on flutes of Cartier Champagne and cocktails created in collaboration with Godawan, an Indian single malt whisky famend for its dedication to supporting conservation efforts in Rajasthan. Favourite tipples included the Alwar Old Fashioned, made utilizing Godawan 01 PX Sherry Cask, combined with saffron-infused honey, cardamom, and a splash of cacao bitters, and Spiced Amber, a heat mix of Godawan 02 Cherry Cask with lime, agave, and ginger.
Chef Chet Sharma from BiBi’s – one in every of CNT’s all-time favorite eating places in the capital – offered a menu of outstanding meals. Roaming across the Dorchester Ballroom have been platters of canapés, together with shakargandi malpua (an Indian blini, constructed from candy potato) topped with a dollop of pachdi (yoghurt) and Caviar; completely crispy murgh methi pakoras; sabudana kurkure (fluffy fritters constructed from potato and tapioca); scrumptious vegetable momos and mushroom and chickpea kebabs in a steamed bun.
Surrounded by breathtaking florals from Blooming Haus, friends stopped at numerous stations of mouth-watering meals, from steaming dishes of idii (fermented rice truffles) topped with lobster and dosas brimming with slow-roasted duck to moreish chilli-cheese kichdi. Later in the night, a wonderful dessert trolley arrived, serving up basic BiBi dishes resembling coconut and saffron kulfis, dipped to order in both Pondicherry or white chocolate.