Your ultimate Diwali party planning guide

It can be pretty cumbersome if you haven't planned a Diwali party and are entrusted to host one last minute. Chances are that the headless chicken routine may soon kick start - Where do you get those fairy lights? And sweets? Oh, and let's not even get started on basics for a puja if you are to host one.Keeping the focus group for the party in mind, we've got three party planners from the city to share their insights for a quick fix Diwali dhamaka at home that everyone - the young and the old - wants to be invited to.

Glow for the youngsters
Nikul Ganatra, founder of Sparkle Event Solutions, suggests a quirky Diwalloween for youngsters. "Since Diwali and Halloween fall a day after another, your theme could be a mix of the festival of lights and dark. Or try electronica - an electric or neon colour coded theme with bright yellows, electric blues, florescent greens, and fiery reds to electrify the atmosphere. Place a few UV tubes (easily available at local electrical shops) behind sofa sets to create a glow in the dark effect," says Ganatra.

Try grilled kebabs, kathi rolls, pizza and non-greasy finger foods, suggests Ganatra. Keep the main course simple with biryani or pulao. Hire a good bartender (if you can, at short notice) but keep the drinks flowing. "Desi cocktails like golgappa shots will get everyone's taste buds tingling. Keep some non-alcoholic drinks like raspberry mojito too," says Ganatra. Don't forget the karaoke (available on the internet or get a karaoke microphone and attach it to the TV set or hi-fi music system). "After a few drinks, everyone wants to be a singer," he says.

Tip for the host:
Always see your friends to their cars, or help in calling a taxi for them. Be prepared for the too sleepy or too inebriated guests. Make arrangements for a sleep over.

Culture trip for the kids
Being the festive season, Juhi Agarwal, Founder of Party A La Carte, prefers rich culture themes. "Why not take your guests with kids to Marrakesh? A Moroccan theme party has beautiful and exotic touches that can transform your guests to the festive mood instantly," says Agarwal.

Agarwal suggests that you start with a low table with ï¬u00c2u0082oor seating, ideal for kids. Throw a traditional Moroccan table runner. Add bold colours like purple and white with gold accents in the form of rugs, cushions, and curtains. Keep Moroccan lanterns and candles, mosaic tile print coasters - all of which are easily available in select furnishing and interiors stores.

"Go for different ï¬u00c2u0082avours of hummus dips, serve with pita bread, and shawarmas," says Agarwal. You can order pita breads, hummus and other dips from gourmet supermarkets or Lebanese restaurants and assemble it on a platter.

Kids can be kept engaged and entertained with sand art, henna tattoo, cookie design and decorating diyas. For gifts, Agarwal recommends Moroccan soaps and sweets or jewellery trinkets and handmade bracelets for kids and adults alike.

Tip for the host:
Make sure your guests are relaxed, comfortable, pampered and well-fed.

Make light of it for the elders
Jigna Madia of Euphoria Creators suggests that the theme could be 'Young India' or say 'Young at 50/60'. "The home can be done up with traditional homemade lanterns, vibrant torans and colourful paper fans," says Madia. For the food, she recommends different states specialties like a Gujarat corner with dhokla and undhiyu, a Punjab pavilion with chole bhature and a south Indian counter with dosa and idli. Indian drinks like buttermilk, rabdi, lassi can be kept common. "Play some peppy music from the 1970s to really take them back to their youth and make sure they shake a leg with each other.

She suggests that they can go home with personalised gifts like a photoframe with a picture from their youth. "It's a bit of work, but the look on their face will be totally worth it," concludes Madia.

Tip for the host:
Involve and engage at least 99 per cent of the party crowd in the plans.