Single and ready to celebrate

Tired of all the rona-dhona surrounding heartbreak, a growing number of people are opting instead to celebrate their newfound single status by hosting their own break-up party

Tired of all the rona-dhona surrounding heartbreak, a growing number of people are opting instead to celebrate their newfound single status by hosting their own break-up party

There was a time when parties meant celebrating a birthday, marriage or an achievement, but with changing times the concept of 'celebration' has changed as well. Today, separation is a reason to rejoice, resulting in an increase in the number of divorce parties in the city.



Despite being a western concept, divorce parties are slowly gaining popularity back home, as well.

Recent Hindi film releases such as Love Aaj Kal saw the lead pair played by Deepika Padukone and Saif Ali Khan celebrate their break-up, while the upcoming film Jodi Breakers has the protagonist throw a divorce party to announce his single status.

"We decided to include the scene, as divorce parties are no longer an alien concept," says Ashwini Choudhary, director of Jodi Breakers that stars Bipasha Basu and R Madhavan.
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"It's like a few years ago when live-in relationships used to sound weird. Today, everyone accepts it with open arms," she adds.

Big business
With party planners and bakers receiving requests for divorce-themes parties and cakes, divorces are a growing business.


A divorce-themed cake by DeliveryChef.in. Pic Courtesy/ Neerus

"We were taken by surprise when we got our first order for a divorce party last year, but we applauded the spirit of the customer and executed the order," says Aditi Talreja, director, DeliveryChef[in], an online food delivery service.

Aditi adds that she has received up to a dozen such orders till date. People are keen to party away their sorrows in the attempt to leave the bitterness of a break-up behind, according to 28-year-old banker Sushmita Mukherjee, who recently celebrated her newfound singlehood with friends.

"I know many people who have these celebrations. I think there is nothing wrong with it," says Sushmita, adding, "What's the point of sitting in a corner and sulking! One should distract oneself from negative thoughts and celebrate a new beginning instead."

Keen to cash in on the trend, party planners are helping streamline the business. Vanita Rodrigues of Joyride Party Planners says, "I organise two kinds of parties: Break-up parties for young girls and boys, and divorce parties for married couples."

Vanita says she sees the celebration as a way of accepting reality. "That's when people like me come into the picture," she adds.

Not for everyone
While love might conquer all, divorce parties, it would appear, are for a select few. "It's basically for the elite. The middle-class or lower middle class is not into it as much," concludes Vanita. With budgets that start at Rs 25,000 and go up to over a lakh, we would have to agree.



Humorous take on love and loss
Jodi Breakers is a Hindi film directed by Ashwini Chaudhary. The Bipasha Basu and Madhavan-starrer, which is scheduled to release on February 24, is said to be a humorous take on being single. The film features the song Kunwara Hoon Kunwara, in which Madhavan's character is shown celebrating his single status.