Every Diwali host knows what the second evening looks like. The mithai boxes from relatives are stacked on the dining table, the kaju katli is shrinking slowly, and guests politely take one piece and ask if there's anything else. There usually isn't.
A good snack table fixes that without much effort. Put something savoury, something crunchy and something sweet-but-not-mithai next to the chai, and let people graze. This guide builds that table from the Polka Foods range, using the rusk, khari, cookies and namkeen that tend to disappear first. Prices are as listed at the time of writing (14 October 2026).
Why Guests Like a Mix of Sweet and Savoury
By the time guests reach your house, they've usually eaten sweets at two other homes. What they want now is contrast. A salty, spiced bite resets the palate and makes the next sweet one taste better, which is why a plate of namkeen next to the cookies tends to empty faster than a plate of cookies alone.
There's a practical side too. Some guests don't eat much sugar, and children often want anything but mithai. A table with sweet and savoury options covers both without you having to ask anyone what they'd like.
The Savoury Side: Khari and Namkeen
Start with the Khari & Namkeen collection, because it does most of the work.
Ajwain Fan Khari (200g, Rs. 130) is flaky, baked and spiced with ajwain. It's the gentlest of the savoury options, so it suits guests of every age. Masala Marori Khari (200g, Rs. 130) goes the other way, with a proper masala kick for people who like their snacks to have some heat. Both are baked rather than fried, and both are good for dunking.
Chatpata Cone Namkeen (180g, Rs. 150) is the crowd-pleaser, a tangy, spiced soya and corn snack that comes in its own cone shape and needs no spoon. Millet Bhujia Mint (170g, Rs. 239) is a millet bhujia with a cool mint finish, a good pick for the guest who has already had enough of the usual sev. Roasted Makhana Fusion (100g, Rs. 239) is a quieter option that suits a small bowl on the side.
As a rule of thumb, one pack of each savoury item covers five or six guests, as long as there are other snacks on the table.
The Sweet Side: Cookies and Rusk
For the sweet end, skip anything that competes with mithai and go for bakes that pair with tea.
French Heart Puff (200g, Rs. 130) is light, buttery and heart-shaped, and it goes down well when children are around. Kaju Pista Cookies (360g, Rs. 330) and Butter Kaju Cookies (360g, Rs. 290) are richer and give the table a more festive look. Handmade Atta Patti Cookies (400g, Rs. 150) are the plain, home-style choice, the kind you reach for with a second cup of chai. Desi Ghee Atta Patti Cookies (360g, Rs. 400) are the indulgent version, made with real ghee.
For a change of texture, add Eggless Cake Rusk (360g, Rs. 290), a soft cake-style rusk that behaves more like a slice of cake than a biscuit. If you'd like to see how the whole rusk range compares, our tea-time favourites guide goes through all six.
Chai Alongside
The table works best with something hot beside it, and most Diwali visits are chai visits.
Crispy Rusk (600g, Rs. 220) is blended with sooji, saunf and elaichi, and it's the classic for dunking. It's also the biggest pack on the table, which helps when the house is full. Desi Ghee Rusk (150g, Rs. 165) is the richer choice for people who like a little ghee with their tea.
If you'd rather not pick item by item, two hampers do it for you. The Evening Chai Spread (Rs. 735) has Crispy Rusk, Eggless Cake Rusk, French Heart Puff and Chatpata Cone Namkeen. The Chai Time Medley (Rs. 808) has Tea Toast Rusk, Masala Marori Khari, French Heart Puff, Handmade Atta Patti Cookies and Roasted Makhana Fusion. Either one gives you a ready-made tray in a single order.
A Table for a Small Gathering or a Big Open House
How much you need depends on how many people walk in.
For a small gathering of six to eight, one hamper does it. Put the Evening Chai Spread out as it comes, and add a pack of Ajwain Fan Khari and a pack of Kaju Pista Cookies if you want more choice. That's Rs. 1,195 in total.
For an open house of fifteen to twenty, plan on two packs of each savoury item and two sweet cookies, with rusk for the tea drinkers. Two Chatpata Cone Namkeen, two Masala Marori Khari, two Ajwain Fan Khari, two Kaju Pista Cookies, one Butter Kaju Cookies and one Crispy Rusk comes to Rs. 1,990 at listed prices. The pack-of-two and pack-of-three options bring the per-pack price down on most items, which helps when you're stocking up.
One small tip: put the snacks out in bowls instead of opening every pack at once, and refill as you go. The table stays tidy, and it looks like more food than it is.
Browse the Khari & Namkeen collection and the Tea Time Favourites collection to build your own table.