Diwali at Amrina: Your Guide to the Festival of Lights in The Woodlands
One night, a festive buffet from Chef Jassi Bindra, live entertainment, and a table full of people you love. Here is everything to know before you reserve.
In India, you can tell Diwali is close long before the calendar says so. Sweet shops stack their counters higher. Homes get scrubbed, painted, and strung with lights. Someone's grandmother starts frying something in ghee days ahead of time, and the whole street knows it. Then the evening arrives, the oil lamps are lit one by one, and for a few hours the darkest night of the month becomes the brightest.
That feeling is what Amrina is bringing to Waterway Square this fall. On Sunday, November 1, 2026, from 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM, the restaurant hosts Diwali at Amrina, a one-night celebration with a festive buffet from Chef Jassi Bindra and his team, live entertainment, and the kind of generous table the holiday is known for.
Whether you grew up lighting diyas with your family or you are celebrating for the very first time, this guide covers what Diwali is, what is on the menu, and how to reserve your seat.
Diwali at Amrina at a Glance
What: Diwali at Amrina, a festive buffet dinner with live entertainment
When: Sunday, November 1, 2026, 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Where: Amrina, 3 Waterway Square Place #100, The Woodlands, TX 77380
Price: $99 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Drinks are available for purchase from the bar.
Tickets: Reserve on OpenTable
Questions: (936) 444-4150 or info.amrina@kahani.social
What Is Diwali, and Why Is It Called the Festival of Lights?
Diwali, also called Deepavali, is the most widely celebrated festival in India and across the Indian diaspora. The name comes from Sanskrit and means "a row of lights." At its heart, the holiday celebrates the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.
Families mark it by lighting small clay oil lamps called diyas, decorating their doorways with colorful rangoli patterns, wearing new clothes, exchanging boxes of sweets, and sitting down to a meal that is bigger and more joyful than any other of the year.
The story behind the lights depends on who is telling it. For many Hindus, Diwali honors the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile, and it is a night to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity. Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas at the same time, commemorating the release of Guru Hargobind from imprisonment along with 52 kings who walked free beside him. Jain communities mark the day as well. The stories differ. The table, the lights, and the generosity are shared.
That shared table means something at Amrina. Chef Jaspratap "Jassi" Bindra grew up in Kanpur, India, in a Punjabi home where he learned to cook beside his mother and grandmother. He went on to become the first turban-wearing Sikh chef to win Food Network's Chopped, and he has spoken proudly about representing Sikh culture and Indian heritage on a national stage. A Diwali dinner in his restaurant is a homecoming of sorts, shared with The Woodlands.
When Is Diwali in 2026?
Diwali follows the lunar calendar, so the date shifts every year. In 2026, the main day of Diwali falls on Sunday, November 8, with the wider five-day festival beginning on Friday, November 6.
Amrina's celebration takes place one week earlier, on Sunday, November 1. That timing is intentional and familiar to anyone who celebrates. The weeks leading up to Diwali are full of parties, gatherings, and dinners with friends, and the day itself is often reserved for home and family. Celebrating at Amrina on November 1 means you get both.
What to Expect on the Night
The evening is built the way a Diwali gathering is meant to unfold: slowly, generously, and with plenty of reasons to go back for more.
It begins with bites at the Tapas Bar, where guests can settle in with a drink and a first plate. From there, the buffet opens up into a full spread of mains, breads, and sides, and the night finishes at the Sweet Shop, a dessert table that takes the Diwali tradition of mithai seriously. Live entertainment is part of the evening, so plan to stay a while.
A buffet is the right format for this holiday. Diwali has never been about a single plated course. It is about abundance, about trying a little of everything, and about passing a dish to the person next to you and insisting they taste it.
The Diwali Menu at Amrina
Chef Jassi's Diwali menu does what Amrina does best. It honors Indian tradition and then looks at it through a global lens. Here is the full lineup.
Bites at the Tapas Bar
Raw Bar: Oysters, Prawns, Cocktail Sauce, Mignonette, Lemon
Pani Puri Shots with Avocado and Passion Fruit Water
Crispy Kale with Tamarind & Raspberry Chutney
Saag Anjeer Kebab with Roasted Pepper Jam
Green Peas & Cheese Kulcha
Cauliflower Manchurian
Amritsari Fish with Tartare Sauce
Chicken Kofte with Madagascar Sauce
Assortment of Papads & Chutneys
The opening spread sets the tone. A raw bar of oysters and prawns sits next to Pani Puri Shots, India's most beloved street snack, here with avocado and passion fruit water. Amritsari Fish is a Punjabi classic named for Amritsar, the city of the Golden Temple, which glows with thousands of lights every Diwali. The Saag Anjeer Kebab pairs spinach with fig, and Cauliflower Manchurian brings in the Indo-Chinese flavors that so many Indian families crave at a party.
Mains
The Original Butter Chicken
Grilled Fish in Lemon Butter & Caper Sauce
Paneer Lavang Latika
Navratan Korma
Saag Burrata
Veg Hakka Noodles
Dal Makhani
Veg Hyderabadi Biryani
Assorted Tandoori Breads
Pomegranate Raita
Regulars know Amrina's dinner menu for its Thai Butter Chicken. For Diwali, the kitchen goes back to the source with The Original Butter Chicken, the dish that needs no introduction at an Indian celebration. Dal Makhani, a fixture of the regular menu, earns its place on the holiday table, and Veg Hyderabadi Biryani brings the fragrance of a true feast.
Navratan Korma takes its name from the "nine gems" of a royal court, and Paneer Lavang Latika borrows its name from a classic clove-pinned festival sweet. Then there is Saag Burrata, where spiced greens meet creamy Italian cheese. It might be the most Amrina dish on the table.
Vegetarian guests will be very happy here. Most of the menu is vegetarian, which reflects the way many families eat during the festival.
The Sweet Shop
Mini Gulab Jamun Cheesecake
Rasmalai Tres Leches
Gajar Halwa Kataifi Nest
Cardamom Chocolate Mousse
Jalebi
Kulfi with Falooda
There is no Diwali without sweets. In India, the weeks before the festival are spent delivering boxes of mithai to neighbors, colleagues, and relatives, and no visit ends until someone has pressed a sweet into your hand.
Amrina's Sweet Shop honors that ritual with a few surprises. Gulab jamun is folded into a mini cheesecake. Rasmalai meets tres leches. Gajar halwa, the warm carrot pudding of Indian winters, is tucked into a crisp kataifi nest. The Cardamom Chocolate Mousse will be familiar to anyone who has ordered dessert at Amrina, and Jalebi and Kulfi with Falooda are there for the purists.
Menu shown as confirmed by Amrina at the time of publication. Please let the team know about any food allergies when you arrive.
Tickets, Timing, and Good-to-Know Details
Tickets are $99 per person, plus tax and gratuity, and include the full buffet and the evening's entertainment. Beverages are purchased separately from the bar, where you will find Amrina's handcrafted cocktails and a wine list that has earned the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence every year from 2022 through 2025.
A few tips for planning your night:
Reserve early. This is a single evening with limited seating. Tickets are available now on OpenTable.
Arrive at 6:30 PM. The bites at the Tapas Bar are the first act, and you will not want to miss them.
Dress for the occasion. Diwali is traditionally a night for your brightest, most festive outfit. Indian attire is always welcome, and so is anything that makes you feel celebratory.
Bring your people. Diwali is best shared. If you are planning for a larger group, call the restaurant at (936) 444-4150 so the team can help.
Why Celebrate Diwali at Amrina?
Amrina opened in The Woodlands in 2022 as part of Kahani Social Group, founded by brothers Surpreet Singh and Preetpaul Singh alongside Chef Jassi. "Kahani" means story, and the restaurant has been telling a new story about Indian cuisine ever since.
It was named Eater Houston's Restaurant of the Year in 2022, has appeared on the Houston Chronicle's Top 100 Restaurants list in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and has earned the OpenTable Diners' Choice Award three years running. Chef Jassi's own resume includes a 2019 Michelin Plate, the Hindustan Times title of World's Best Indian Chef 2019, a Chopped championship, and a spot on Top Chef Season 23.
Awards aside, the real reason to spend Diwali here is simpler. This is a kitchen led by people who grew up with this holiday and who cook it with love. If Diwali is already part of your life, you will taste home. If it is new to you, there is no warmer introduction. You do not need to know the customs or the stories to belong at this table. You only need to show up hungry.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Diwali at Amrina?
Diwali at Amrina takes place on Sunday, November 1, 2026, from 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM at 3 Waterway Square Place #100 in The Woodlands, Texas.
How much are tickets, and what is included?
Tickets are $99 per person, plus tax and gratuity. The price includes the Diwali buffet, with bites at the Tapas Bar, mains, and the Sweet Shop dessert table, along with live entertainment. Drinks are purchased separately.
Where can I celebrate Diwali in The Woodlands?
Amrina, the modern Indian fine dining restaurant in Waterway Square, is hosting a ticketed Diwali celebration on November 1, 2026. Reservations are available through OpenTable.
When is Diwali in 2026?
The main day of Diwali falls on Sunday, November 8, 2026. Amrina's celebration is held one week earlier so guests can enjoy a night out and still spend the holiday itself at home with family.
Is the Diwali menu vegetarian friendly?
Yes. Most of the Diwali menu is vegetarian, including Paneer Lavang Latika, Navratan Korma, Saag Burrata, Dal Makhani, and Veg Hyderabadi Biryani. Guests with allergies or dietary restrictions should let the team know.
Do I need a reservation?
Yes. Diwali at Amrina is a ticketed event with limited seating, and advance booking through OpenTable is strongly recommended.
Can I come if I have never celebrated Diwali before?
Absolutely. Diwali is a holiday built on hospitality, and everyone is welcome. Come for the food, stay for the music, and leave knowing a little more about one of the world's great celebrations.
What if I cannot make it on November 1?
Amrina is open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday, and the Kahani Room hosts private gatherings of up to 24 guests if you would like to plan a Diwali dinner of your own. Submit a private events inquiry or call (936) 444-4150 to start the conversation.
Reserve Your Seat
Diwali comes once a year, and this celebration happens for one night only. Gather your family, your friends, or the coworkers who have been asking where to find the best Indian food in The Woodlands, and join us on Sunday, November 1.
Amrina
3 Waterway Square Place #100, The Woodlands, TX 77380
(936) 444-4150 | info.amrina@kahani.social
Dinner: Tuesday to Thursday 5 to 9 PM, Friday and Saturday 5 to 10 PM, Sunday 5 to 9 PM. Lunch: Fridays 11 AM to 2 PM. Fantasy Hour: Tuesday to Sunday 4 to 7 PM. Closed Mondays.
Comments