A Festive Glassware Guide: Which Glasses to Use for Water, Mocktails and Diwali Drinks

Most homes need only three kinds of glass for festive hosting: a sturdy tumbler for water and everyday drinks, a stemmed glass for mocktails and juices, and one statement set that comes out for occasions. Buy in sixes, choose shapes by the drink rather than by looks, and keep one design per type so the table looks matched even when guests are many.

Why fewer types work better

A cupboard of mismatched sets is hard to use. At a Diwali gathering you will pour water, sherbet, nimbu pani, mocktails and perhaps something stronger for some guests, and you will refill often. Three dependable types, each in a set of six or more, cover nearly every drink and make it easy to lay a table quickly.

1. The tumbler: water and everyday drinks

A straight or slightly tapered tumbler with a heavy base is the workhorse. It suits water, juices, lassi and soft drinks, survives being passed around and stacks or stores neatly. A textured surface helps grip and hides fingerprints. The Prism Texture Glass Set of 6 has an all-over diamond texture and a tall 6-inch shape suited to water and juices.

2. The stemmed glass: mocktails and juices

A stem lifts the glass, keeps warm hands off the drink and makes a simple mocktail look like an occasion. For a festive table, choose a shape that is not too fragile. The Linear Stemmed Glass Set of 6 has clean vertical ribbing and a 7-inch elongated shape, made for water, juices, mocktails and table settings.

3. The statement set: colour on the table

One coloured or unusual set lifts the whole table, especially against white or cream crockery. Use it for the welcome drink or for dessert. The Fluted Petal Goblet Glass in aqua has a wide rounded bowl and a petal-shaped pedestal, and doubles as a dessert glass for kheer, phirni or fruit.

Match the glass to the drink

• Water and juice: tumbler or tall stemmed glass.
• Sherbet, thandai and nimbu pani: a tall tumbler shows off the colour and leaves room for ice.
• Mocktails with garnish: a wide-bowled goblet gives space for fruit and mint.
• Desserts: a goblet or dessert bowl on a short pedestal. Our Fluted Dessert Bowls, set of 6 are sized for ice cream, puddings and fruit.

How many to buy

Plan for one and a half glasses per guest for a long evening, because people put glasses down and forget them. For a gathering of twelve, that means about eighteen glasses in total, which is three sets of six across the three types. Keep a few extra tumblers for refills and for children.

Washing and storing

• Wash by hand in warm water with a mild detergent. Textured and coloured glass keeps its finish longer without the dishwasher's heat.
• Dry with a lint-free cotton cloth while still warm to avoid water spots, which show up badly on clear glass.
• Store stemmed glasses upright, not on their rims. Rims are the most fragile part of the glass.
• Avoid sudden temperature changes, such as pouring hot liquid into a cold glass.

Setting glasses on the table

Place glasses at the top right of each plate, water glass closest. If you serve both water and a drink, set the stemmed glass slightly behind and to the right. Coasters on the coffee table save wooden and glass surfaces from rings during the long evening. Our coasters include faux leather sets with stands. Browse all drinking glasses to compare shapes side by side.

Choosing glass that suits your table

Clear glass goes with everything and is the safest first purchase. Textured glass, such as ribbed or diamond patterns, catches candlelight well, which is useful at Diwali when tables are lit by tealights and diyas. Coloured glass adds the most impact but should be limited to one set so the table does not look mixed. If your crockery is patterned, keep glassware plain; if your crockery is plain white, a coloured or textured set gives the table its character. Consistency within each type matters more than which design you choose.

Glasses as part of the decor

Good glassware does not need to live in a cupboard between parties. A set of tall textured glasses on a tray with a water jug makes a useful corner on a sideboard or bar cart all year. Stemmed glasses can hold a single flower or a floating tealight on a festive table. Using pieces often is also the best way to notice when a set needs replacing before the next big gathering.

Frequently asked questions

What glasses do I need for hosting a Diwali party? Three types cover most needs: a sturdy tumbler for water and juice, a stemmed glass for mocktails, and one statement set for welcome drinks or dessert.

How many glasses should I have per guest? Plan for about one and a half per guest for a long evening, since glasses get put down and forgotten. For twelve guests, around eighteen glasses.

Can I wash textured glassware in the dishwasher? Hand washing in warm water with mild detergent is gentler and helps textured and coloured glass keep its finish for longer.

Should stemmed glasses be stored upside down? No. Store them upright. The rim is the most fragile part and can chip when stored resting on it.

Which glass is best for serving desserts like kheer? A wide-bowled goblet or a short pedestal dessert bowl works well, as it is easy to eat from and presents the dessert at the table.