Wikipedia uses “mithai” for the confectionery shared during Diwali.
Mithai is a broad term for sweets and desserts of the Indian subcontinent, rather than the name of one particular recipe. Diwali celebrations commonly include homemade or purchased mithai, which families offer to guests, exchange as gifts, and serve during festive meals. Examples include barfi, jalebi, gulab jamun, laddoo, kheer, and Mysore pak.
The tradition reflects the social role of sweets in South Asian life. Mithai appears at religious festivals, weddings, births, parties, hospitality occasions, and other celebrations. Recipes vary widely by region and may use milk, khoya, flour, sugar, jaggery, nuts, fruit, seeds, or spices. Preparation also varies: some sweets are fried, some cooked, some roasted, and some frozen.
A common mistake is treating mithai as a single dish or as a synonym for candy alone. It is a collective category. Chutney, papad, and pakora are savory foods, so they do not fit the term, even though they may also appear in festive meals.