Fool's gold

PJs are passe. So are plastic lizards and fake calls.u00a0 The Guide shows you better ways to have 'fool'tu fun

Keeping the festive mood in mind, and responding to the numerous requests we received from our readers, we came up with a few new, patakha pranks. Drive them mad as a hatter and even if it falls flat, remember the jokes on you and have a hearty laugh. Don't forget to tell us what happened!u00a0
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Chholey Bhature @ Emporio
Even the richest feel poor at the plush Emporio mall in Vasant Kunj. It's the last place you'll find scrumptious street-fare, but what the heck, it can any day double as a fool's paradise. Dress up in the best ofu00a0u00a0 brands, take along your besties, and walk up to the concierge. Confidently, ask for the cheapest chholey bhature available around.u00a0 They'll mock at you no doubt, but you know who had the last laugh!

Metro birthday
Try this only of you don't regularly commute by the Metro. Take the longest route (or the busiest one), dress up the best you can, and distribute chocolates to strangers, announcing it's your birthday. While some might buy that and appreciate your gesture, others might think you crazy. But as they say, " the best way to make others laugh is to laugh at yourself." Moreover, it's a good thing to do to mankind as a whole.

Sweetest surprise
Put some sweet cream on your wife's toothbrush, and watch the effect as she fights frantically to get that hideous thing out of her mouth. If she smiles, you know what it can lead to, next.

Ande ka funda
This one promises to be a whole lot of fun. Organise an egg-beating competition inu00a0 office. Announce that anyone who breaks 5 eggs on his/her head will be winning Rs 1,000 (or more) of cash. After the victim goes through the ordeal of breaking four,u00a0 quickly exclaim that you have run out of eggs, before revealing the obvious intention, of course.

Flex some Sarkari muscle
Hire a safari suit, oil your hair till you reek of coconut head to toe, wear black faux leather sandals and pair of old rimmed glasses. Look stern. Now, holding an official-looking file (tattered and falling all over the place), hit places where you find people littering or puffing away in public. Give them some gyaan and a good piece of your mind. Have fun, and yet do some social good. But remember, the trick is to pretend to be a government official, and not claim to be one, or you'll land behind the bars. Keep company handy to handle untowardly brawls.

Become His highness of Kujkujlabaad
Wear a sherwani and a turban, hold a rose in your hand and make your close friends play the part of your entourage -- the beefy ones get to play your bodyguard while the scrawniest can hold your umbrella or cape.u00a0 Enter an expensive mall, and let your minister declare you to the store manger as His Highness Ali Jah, Umdat ul-Umara, Hisam us-Sultanat, Mukhtar ul-Mulk, Maharajadhiraj Maharaja of Kujkujlabaad. Secretly confide in him that you are a cross-dresser, and would love to see some of the most expensive lingerie. And when you have had your time preening in front of the mirror and your cronies praising your excellent taste, ask the store manger if you can pay him with bags of salt because that is the official currency they still use in your kingdom. Walk out when refused. Don't stretch it too much, or the real security guards could leave you and your entourage royally black-eyed!u00a0
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Ladies special
Men only. Cross dress as a woman and walk into the most crowded bus you can spot today. Make sure you look every inch the 'gay' man. Lipstick and eyeshadow will do the trick in a jiffy. Ask for a ladies seat. Not only will it attract a good amount of gags, you will also know how the LGBT community is treated while they use public transport. Stand close to the foot-board if you're scared of the consequences. And obviously, travel with friends.

Why the heck is it celebrated?
Well, frankly, nobody knows for sure. Different theories suggest different origins. In the Middle Ages, according to the old Julian calendar, New Year's Day was celebrated on the March 25 and the celebrations in some areas of France spilled till April 1. So, those who chose January 1 as the New Year's Day according to the new Gregorian calendar ended up mocking those who continued to celebrate on other days.u00a0 Another story is related to Noah and his Ark. He sent out his dove in search of land on the first day of Hebrew month (that corresponds with April), too early before land could be sighted; thus the day commemorates that error. Who cares, just go ahead, have fun.

Some true incidents that suffered for Fool's Day
n Google, the perpetrator of pranks, had a taste of its own medicine when it launched Gmail in April 2004. It was believed simply to be a prank by many, until the truth was revealed.u00a0
n Iran declared its independence on April 1 1979; till date, people end up mistaking it as a joke.u00a0u00a0
n In the Danish town of Albertslund, a school was almost burnt to ground when the fire department refused to respond to the calls, believing it to be a prank.

Some famous hoaxes
Left hand drive
In 1998, Burger King, the famous Florida-based fast food chain, ran an ad claiming patrons could now buy their signature hamburger Whopper specially made for left-handed people. Not surprisingly, many ordered these special burgers, while the right-handed ones ordered the regular 'right handed' grub.
Dead fairy on sale
In 2007, an illusion designer for magicians posted some web images of a mummified fairy. It was sold on e-bay for an amount of 280 pounds.
Premier prank
A radio presenter with a UK station called up Nelson Mandela, claiming he was Tony Blair. When the South African ex-President was asked what he was doing on April fool's day,
the line went dead.