A Diwali buffet is a feast of dishes that look similar at first glance: three kinds of curry, two kinds of rice, sweets that may or may not contain nuts. Guests with allergies, vegans, Jains, children, and anyone new to Indian food all want to know what they are eating. Small tent cards in front of each dish answer the question before anyone has to ask. This sheet prints six fold-over food labels on one US Letter page.
What Each Tent Card Shows
Every label is a rectangle 3.6 inches wide and 3.1 inches tall that folds in half to stand up as a 3.6 by 1.55 inch tent. The front half has a cream panel framed in a festive colour, with the dish name in Playfair Display, a two-line description in Lora italic, and small rounded tags for dietary information. The back half is filled with the same colour and carries a marigold and Happy Diwali in script, printed upside down so it reads correctly once the card is folded and seen from the other side of the table.
The Six Sample Dishes
| Dish | Description on the card | Tags | Colour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paneer Tikka | Tandoor-grilled cottage cheese with peppers and mint chutney | V, GF | Wine |
| Vegetable Biryani | Fragrant basmati layered with spiced vegetables and saffron | V | Teal |
| Chole | Slow-cooked chickpeas in a tangy onion-tomato masala | VG, GF | Rust |
| Dahi Vada | Lentil dumplings in sweet yogurt with tamarind and cumin | V, GF | Purple |
| Gulab Jamun | Warm milk dumplings soaked in rose and cardamom syrup | V, DAIRY | Magenta |
| Kaju Katli | Silver-topped cashew fudge diamonds | V, NUTS | Antique gold |
A key at the bottom of the sheet explains the tags: V vegetarian, VG vegan, GF gluten-free, DAIRY contains dairy, NUTS contains nuts.
Getting Dietary Tags Right
Tags are only helpful if they are accurate. Before printing, check each recipe with whoever cooked it:
- Vegetarian (V): no meat, fish, or egg. Most Diwali dishes qualify, but check for egg in some sweets and breads.
- Vegan (VG): no dairy, ghee, honey, or paneer. Many curries are cooked in ghee, so ask.
- Gluten-free (GF): no wheat, semolina, barley, or asafoetida mixed with wheat flour. Many hing powders contain wheat, which surprises people.
- Dairy: milk, yogurt, paneer, cream, ghee, or khoya.
- Nuts: cashews, almonds, pistachios, often in gravies and sweets.
When unsure, leave a tag off rather than guessing, and let guests ask the host. For catered events, ask the caterer for an ingredient list.
Editing the Labels
- Click a dish name and type your own dish.
- Click the description and write one or two short lines about the dish. Mention a key ingredient or how it is cooked.
- Edit the tags: click a tag’s text to change it, or select the small pill shape and its text and delete them if a tag does not apply. Copy and paste a tag to add one, then move it into line.
- Change a card’s colour by clicking its back panel and its frame.
- For more than six dishes, download the page, edit the six cards again with new dishes and download a second page, or use Add Page and copy the cards.
Printing, Cutting and Folding
Download the sheet as a PDF and print at actual size on US Letter card stock of 200 to 250 gsm; thinner paper will not stand up. Cut along the dashed rectangles with a paper trimmer. Score lightly along the faint centre line with the back of a butter knife and a ruler, then fold so the coloured back half is behind the cream front. The card stands as a small tent in front of the dish. The page uses solid colour on each back panel; if you want to save ink, change those panels to a pale tint.
Arranging the Buffet
Place each tent card in front of its dish, slightly to the left so it is read before the guest reaches the serving spoon. Group dishes in the order guests eat them: starters, mains, breads and rice, sides and sweets. Put sweets with nuts at the end of the table with their labels clearly visible. If children are serving themselves, place their favourite dishes and their labels at a lower table.
Matching Your Diwali Decor
The six colours, wine, teal, rust, purple, magenta, and antique gold, are chosen to look rich together on a festive table. For a coordinated look, change all six to one colour that matches your tablecloth, such as maroon and gold or emerald and gold. The marigolds on the back are editable vector art with their own colour swatches.
Using the Labels Beyond Diwali
The design works for any Indian festive buffet. Change Happy Diwali on the back to Happy Navratri, Eid Mubarak, Happy Holi, or the couple’s names for a wedding reception. In 2026, Diwali falls on Sunday, November 8; for parties that weekend, print the labels a day early so you are not cutting card on party day.
Buffet Label Questions
Can I use the labels flat without folding?
Yes. Cut only the front half and stand it against the dish, or lay it flat on the table.
Can I add a spice level?
Add a tag such as MILD, MEDIUM, or HOT, or type a small chilli count in the description.
Can I print on A4?
Yes, at actual size. The six cards fit within the A4 page with slightly different margins.
Labels for Children and Elders
Children and older guests often need the most guidance at a buffet. Consider adding a small MILD tag to dishes without chilli, so parents can find food suitable for children quickly, and a SUGAR FREE tag where you have made a special sweet for diabetic guests. Place these dishes at a convenient height and near the start of the table, so guests who need them do not have to reach across a crowd.
Help Every Guest Eat Happily
Type your dishes, check the tags with the cook, and print the labels the day before your party. Clear labels mean fewer questions, safer plates, and more time for you to enjoy the feast.
