Stocked with crazy wigs, kinky headgear, fluorescent bangles and exotic party games in addition to the usual trimmings for Christmas and New Year’s Eve, stores like Party Hunterz and the two-month old Mad Hatters allow Mumbai adults to indulge their fantasies (to the extent that the moral police will allow anyway). Pick up some of their party favours and decor elements, set up a digital photo-booth, get your canapés and Christmas cakes from the pros, and you’re half way there — all that’s left is to stir up the party spirit. And if you’re lost for ideas on that front, event planner Viral Shah has a few suggestions.

He says the first thing to do is to chalk out a budget, “Then, based on this, select a venue and decide what food and drinks you can offer guests.” The bar is integral to theu00a0success of your party, he adds. “New Year’s Eve parties, in particular, are booze-centric,” he says, telling us that drinking games are popular at such events. He recommends Liqueur Lotto, in which you pass around a tray of diluted shots with just one glass that contains unadulterated strong alcohol like Tequila or Jagermeister. Whoever gets the pure alcohol wins a prize.