Food delivery and dining patterns across India in March reflected a vibrant mix of festivals, celebrations, and sporting excitement, according to insights shared by Swiggy.
Navratri drives steady growth in orders
During the Navratri period (March 19–27), orders grew by 25% compared to the previous year. The highest spike was recorded on March 22, with nearly 4,800 orders placed at 8:06 pm.
Simple fasting dishes dominated preferences. Sabudana Khichdi emerged as the most ordered item, followed by Sabudana Vada and Vrat Thali. Cities like Bengaluru, Delhi, and Gurgaon led demand, while smaller cities such as Bareilly, Bhopal, and Dehradun also showed strong participation.
Large festive orders were also noted, including one in Delhi worth ₹11,980 featuring multiple thalis and beverages.
Eid sees biryani dominate plates
On Eid al-Fitr (March 21), biryani remained the undisputed favourite, with over 200 orders placed every minute nationwide.
Desserts like Gulab Jamun also saw high demand. High-value orders stood out, including a ₹38,165 order in Noida and a ₹15,866 biryani order in Mumbai.
Metro cities such as Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Delhi recorded peak volumes, while cities like Mangaluru, Surat, and Thiruvananthapuram also showed strong festive participation.
IPL boosts dining-out culture
The opening weekend of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) significantly boosted dining-out activity.
Swiggy Dineout bookings rose by 31% compared to last season’s opening day. On March 28, bookings increased by over 30%, especially at venues offering live match screenings. The 7 pm slot saw a 22.4% jump in reservations.
Bengaluru, which hosted the opening match, recorded over 21% growth in bookings, with diners saving more than ₹96 lakh collectively. A single bill in the city reached ₹1.18 lakh, the highest recorded for the event.
Holi celebrations extend to train journeys
Swiggy’s “Food on Train” service also saw strong demand during Holi. Between February 28 and March 8, over 5,700 Holi-special orders were delivered across more than 1,300 trains.
Popular items included samosa, lassi, and pyaaz kachori. Jaipur emerged as the top station, while the Kerala Express recorded 780 orders. In one instance, a passenger placed a bulk order of 122 items, highlighting the rise of group travel celebrations.
A reflection of changing food habits
The data highlights how food choices in India are closely tied to cultural events, festivals, and entertainment. From fasting meals during Navratri to celebratory biryanis on Eid and social dining during IPL, March showcased the evolving ways Indians eat, celebrate, and connect.