"When I met my New Delhi-born husband Rahul a little more than 10 years ago, Diwali wasn't yet a big part of my life. But now I can't imagine fall without it. The "Festival of Lights," which generally falls in October or November according to the lunar calendar, celebrates the triumph of light over darkness-and has become one of my favorite times of the year in New York. It's sparkly, festive, glowy, fun... just a supremely joyous holiday."
"Over the past few years, the city has been undergoing a bit of an Indian food renaissance, with a new crop of restaurants serving incredible Indian dishes the way they're actually prepared in India. Authentic spots were quite hard to find in the past, so this is a welcome and long-overdue shift, one that will make this year's Diwali gatherings (it falls on October 20) feel extra celebratory."
"Much like its Texas location, which debuted in 2020 and earned a Michelin star in 2024, the new NYC Musaafer-which means "traveler" in Hindi and Urdu-is designed to transport diners to the Taj Mahal and other opulent palaces throughout India. Think marble walls, lotus flower chandeliers, mother-of-pearl inlays, and patterned glass inspired by the Hawa Mahal in Jaipur. There's even a semi-private dining area made up of thousands of hand-cut pieces of mirror that reflect the light."
Diwali, the Festival of Lights that falls in October or November, celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and has become a cherished autumn celebration in New York. The city is experiencing an Indian food renaissance, with a new wave of restaurants serving dishes as they are prepared in India, making Diwali gatherings more celebratory and prompting reservations for October 20. Musaafer opened in Tribeca as the New York outpost of the Houston restaurant, featuring opulent design elements—marble walls, lotus chandeliers, mother-of-pearl inlays, patterned glass, and a mirror-lined semi-private dining area. Executive Chef Mayank Istwal spent 100 days traveling across India to gather inspiration and ancient techniques.
Read at Vogue
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]