Is there anything better than the festive season to reconnect with your loved ones? The second half of the year in the Hindu calendar is filled with auspicious days and celebrations that give you a chance to unwind with your favourite people by your side. Even with a barrage of occasions and a seemingly draining social calendar, we’re still hyped about the holidays – and why shouldn’t we be? All things considered, they’re what we look forward to as soon as August sets in. Among all of these, Diwali is a festival that is celebrated with an all-out approach in India. From friends to family, everyone gathers for the various merriments that it brings with it. If playing host is on your mind this season, then here are Diwali party ideas to get you started. The successful execution of even one of these is sure to establish you as the star host among your group!
How do you start a Diwali party?
First things first, hosting a great Diwali party – or pretty much any party – requires zeal and great attention to detail. If you’re having people over, you need to be a pro entertainer while also keeping all their needs in mind. You cannot write anything off as ‘not important; you need to be thoughtful about every decision you make, right from the lights to the table settings and how equipped your bathroom is, too.
How do you host a great Diwali party?
Be sure to zero in on Diwali party ideas at home that you think will work for all your guests and not just a handful of them. Also factor in who will be joining before you chalk out your plan. You don’t want to miss out on the little things that will make your attendees feel warm and comfortable at your abode!
How do you celebrate Diwali in a unique way?
A party to remember is not one that is just like the others! You’ve gotta put your thinking caps on to give your guests an experience to remember. For this, we’ve put together a list of the most distinctive Diwali party ideas – so that you don’t have to wonder out loud!
1. Potluck
Got a bunch of friends who love cooking and whipping things up in the kitchen? A potluck party is the way to go! With an array of dishes – courtesy of everyone in your friend group – you’re going to have a gala time trying on some lip-smacking food and be spoilt for choice at the same time. To make things more efficient and also make sure you don’t end up with two of the same preparations, take the time to assign everyone a dish. Repetitions are not very fun when it comes to potluck parties – so bear this in mind.
Some great Diwali party entertainment ideas are various types of sweets and farsaan, with a giddy mix of celebratory staples as well as experimental creations. For the main course, you can stick to one cuisine or switch it up with multiple! Since it’s your party, be sure to have a highlighting dish ready to woo your guests, with some Quick Diwali Recipes.
2. Game Night
We know that taash for Indians is synonymous with Diwali party ideas, but we say, there are other equally fun games that can be played in a group! Pictionary and Charades are designated crowd favourites, along with board games like Crossword and Sequence for smaller group sizes. You can also have a karaoke contest or play a family game like Antakshari to put your musical side to the test. While these games should not be driven by competition, you can make them more fun and adrenaline-pumping by introducing rewards of any kind and by giving everyone Diwali gifts. Even little personalised mementoes would do!
Apart from this, drinking games like Cheers To The Governor can also get your guests sloshed while ensuring they’re having a great time. On game nights, an advantage is that instead of a full-blown dinner, you can just have snacks and munchies on the table. Make sure to set aside a separate bar space if you’re serving alcohol in order to avoid clumsy mishaps in the spirit of game night.
3. Brunch
We know that the whole crux of Diwali party ideas is to have them at night, but what do you do when none of your friends is open to the idea of celebrating till the light of dawn? You throw a brunch! A brunch ensures that most of your friends will show up, and you can have it over the Diwali weekend, making a day out of it. The theme can be more central to the festival, with only Indian food and sweets. A delectable and elaborate spread of the same in an indoor or outdoor setting can be the crux of your Diwali Decoration Ideas. Also, you don’t have to shy away from turning those fairy lights on during the day.
Brunch is a great way to have a mix of a crowd ranging from adults to children, or even mixing up family and friends. Ask everyone to be dressed in their best ethnic wear that is both comfy and festive. In fact, you can even have a dress code aligned with Diwali, so that you’re all geared up to ring in the festival of lights!
4. Henna Evening
Applying Mehendi or henna is an integral part of any Indian celebration, from weddings to festivities and auspicious days. If your group of women also enjoys the art, then you can book a Mehendi artist for an evening and call them all over to your house. Bear in mind that for Diwali party ideas like this, you have to prep your space in advance. Lay down scraps so that your flooring doesn’t get stained with dry henna. Also, make sure you organize a henna evening before and not on the day of Diwali since your friends and you both will need to stray away from touching objects around the house for some time.
5. Dance Party
The pandemic saw us all stripping our celebrations of the grandeur that would usually be their highlight. This led to the concept of intimate festivities that saved a lot of money but also didn’t leave most of us feeling fulfilled or satisfied. This year-round, we all have the chance to make up for the lost time by going all-out with Diwali party ideas! There’s nothing like Bollywood dance music, a desi group of friends and some alcohol to get you into party mode. Not to forget, those sparkling festive outfits!
Call everyone over after Diwali pooja, and have the time of your life as you dance to some of Indian cinema’s most foot-tapping tunes. You can also turn your living room into a dancefloor with the addition of disco lighting, or simply dim the lights with only the Diwali decor and lamps adding a mellow glow to your space.
6. All About Diwali Taash Parties
Whether you’re a seasoned player or a novice, your bucket list of Diwali party ideas is incomplete without taash parties! A glamorous way to ring in the festival, playing cards with your family, cousins or friends (or all of them together) can be the most fun thing you do! A lot of people keep this for the day of Diwali, and some even play 3 nights in a row, starting from Dhanteras itself. Earlier, teen patti used to be the only game people played but now, your party need not be restricted to it. If you’ve got a few bucks to spare, you can hire a casino-like setting with a dealer and everything. Play games like poker, etc. and turn your living room into a mini Las Vegas! Now, there are professional dealers and poker tables and chips that can be hired to turn living rooms into casinos.
7. Fireworks & Cocktails
You may think that fireworks are just to keep kids and teens entertained, but you’re wrong! Even adults can enjoy crackers and fireworks just the same – if not more. If you have a dedicated space in your respective locality where you can call everyone over to shoot fireworks into the sky, then this can be the most fun way to celebrate Diwali. When the thrill is over, host your guests for some curated cocktails at your house! Trust us – they’ll love it, provided you get it right.
8. Diwali Theme Party Ideas
Why save the costumes for only Halloween? Bring the fun of dressing up as your favourite character to Diwali too! Theme parties are exceptionally popular in the west, and while we derive inspiration from foreigners for all else, this should be on the list as well. Theme parties give you the chance to slip into the shoes of an on-screen character you love or someone right out of a book! For Diwali party themes, you can stay connected to your roots by taking a more traditional approach. Some great themes can be Bollywood, Mythology or other Indian cinemas. Make sure to discuss in advance what everyone is planning to show up as!
It’s fairly easy to recreate Bollywood looks than find mythology-related costumes. To filter it down even further, you can keep the dress code traditional so everybody gets to bring out their best ethnic wear; since everyone is anyways wondering what to wear on Diwali. Your decor for the night can also revolve around the theme for a spectacular experience.
9. DIY Diwali Party Ideas for Kids
Now, let’s talk about your little ones. Fireworks are definitely great to keep them on their feet, but they are also not the safest options. A failsafe way to ensure they’re having fun too is to organise a DIY party, where all of them have their hands full. This can be done a weekend before Diwali, and you can plan a bunch of activities depending on how many kids are in on it. The parents can chill while the toddlers can indulge in things like diya painting, lantern making, etc. You can also make it a competition to bring out their most creative sides!
10. Rangoli Making | Diwali Rangoli Ideas
Diwali is synonymous with rangoli, and this is not a fact unknown! Now, we know it’s difficult to find a space big enough to host both rangolis and the makers, but a way to go about this can be to work collectively on one big rangoli design. You can each take up corners and tasks, and do your part in the grand design. More detailed motifs work best when larger groups are at work, and you can keep it simple yet attractive if you’re only a few people. Use powdered colours, flowers and even other appropriate apparatus to create a stunning design!
Don’t let this list of Diwali party ideas be exhaustive! Put your creativity into play and come up with some fun, experimental things to do this festive season.
Also Check Out: Latest Diwali Wishes