10 Indian Sweets for Diwali You Must Try — And More Importantly, Where to Buy Them

This Diwali, Vitaly Foods is bringing a fresh, contemporary approach to Indian mithai in Ottawa, combining traditional Indian sweets with modern flavours, individual presentation, premium packaging and made-to-order home delivery.

To explore why mithai remains such an important part of Diwali and how it is evolving, Ottawa food writer Pooja Taneja spoke with Sanjay Chadha, CEO of Vitaly Foods.

Why Diwali and Mithai Go Together

Pooja Taneja: Why do you think Diwali is so important for Indian mithai?

Sanjay Chadha: Indians are blessed with many festival seasons, but Diwali stands out.

Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, marks the return of Lord Rama after 14 years of exile. His return was celebrated by the citizens of Ayodhya, and Diwali marks that important moment.

Lord Rama is a holy figure in Indian scriptures and for Hindus around the world. That is why celebrating Diwali is so important.

Mithai and the Tradition of Celebration

Pooja Taneja: Why is mithai so important to celebrating Diwali?
Sanjay Chadha: Mithai is important because it is sweet, and sweetness is generally associated with celebration.

Indians have developed thousands of different styles and varieties of mithai. Diwali is a time when families share sweets, give them as gifts and bring them into their celebrations.

Mithai is therefore much more than a dessert. It is part of the tradition of celebrating, sharing and giving.

A New Approach to Traditional Mithai

Pooja Taneja: There are already many businesses selling Indian sweets in Ottawa. How does Vitaly Foods distinguish itself?

Sanjay Chadha: Mithai is changing. The expectations and perspectives of consumers are changing.

Mithai has been around for generations, but there has been relatively little innovation in how it is made and presented. In India, we are now seeing exciting innovation in mithai, and we are inspired by that movement.

We want to bring that innovation to Ottawa, drawing inspiration from Delhi, the capital of India.

Three Areas of Innovation

Pooja Taneja: What exactly do you mean by innovation in mithai?

Sanjay Chadha: We see innovation happening in three important ways.

First is flavour. Traditional mithai such as barfi, laddu and gulab jamun will always remain the mainstay. Those traditional flavours are important.

But mithai can also evolve by combining traditional Indian sweets with contemporary flavours such as tiramisu, chocolate, pistachio cream and others.

Second is presentation. Mithai has maintained many of the same shapes and forms for generations. We believe it is time for presentation to evolve.

Each individual piece should stand out almost like a piece of art. It should be beautifully decorated and carefully presented so people appreciate it visually before they even taste it.
Third is packaging. Packaging itself should enhance the mithai. The box should not simply be a container—it should contribute to the premium experience and make the mithai appropriate for gifting.

Freshness Starts With the Order

Pooja Taneja: How is Vitaly Foods different from other mithai businesses when it comes to service?

Sanjay Chadha: We differentiate ourselves in three important ways.

First, we make the mithai after the order is placed. Our mithai isn't sitting on a shelf for weeks or months. It is made fresh for the customer.

Second, we offer a focused selection of individual pieces rather than trying to have hundreds of varieties sitting in inventory.

Third, we deliver it to the customer's home as soon as it is made.
Made to order, a focused selection and fresh home delivery—these three things together make our approach different.

Every Piece Is Meant to Stand on Its Own

Pooja Taneja: Can you tell us more about the individual pieces of mithai?

Sanjay Chadha: For us, every piece of mithai is an individual creation. Each piece should stand out on its own.

That starts with what goes inside the mithai. We document and present the ingredients that go into each individual piece. Whether it is a barfi, laddu or another type of mithai, we want the customer to know what they are eating and what the piece is made from.

Each piece is hand-built and individually prepared, with attention to the ingredients and how they come together.

For us, the individual piece is important—not simply the box as a whole.

Nuts, Seeds and Fresh Ingredients

Pooja Taneja: What kind of ingredients do you use?

Sanjay Chadha: Our mithai is made with ingredients such as nuts, almonds, cashews, chia seeds and a variety of seeds, along with other fresh ingredients.

We want our laddus and other individual mithai pieces to be delicate and delicious, while paying attention to the quality of the ingredients that go into them.

A Diwali Message for Ottawa

Pooja Taneja: What is the one message you want to give Ottawa residents this Diwali?
Sanjay Chadha: I would like to say to the residents of Ottawa: we are bringing the innovation of mithai to Ottawa this Diwali 2026.

Try us out.
We make our premium mithai fresh and deliver it directly to your home. Make Vitaly Foods premium mithai part of your Diwali celebrations or give it as a gift this year—and see the difference it can make to your Diwali.

Where to Buy Diwali Indian Sweets in Ottawa

For Ottawa residents looking for Diwali mithai, Vitaly Foods offers a made-to-order approach focused on freshness, individual presentation and home delivery.

The company's approach combines traditional Indian mithai with contemporary flavours and presentation, making the sweets suitable for Diwali celebrations, family gatherings and gifting.
This Diwali, Vitaly Foods invites Ottawa residents to experience Indian mithai in a new way: freshly made, individually prepared and delivered to your door.

About Vitaly Foods
Vitaly Foods is an Ottawa Food Company focused on bringing fresh, thoughtfully prepared Indian food and premium mithai to the local community. For Diwali 2026, the company is introducing a selection of made-to-order mithai designed around traditional Indian flavours, contemporary influences and premium presentation.
Media Contact:
Vitaly Foods
Ottawa, Ontario
Website: vitalyfoods.ca