Diwali card parties acquire new avatar with poker, music, dance

Card parties are not just about a group of friends and family comfortably gorging on snacks playing teen patti. It has metamorphosised to include music, dance, clothes, gifts, fancy cards, loads of money and of course poker.


Playing it up: The card room at the Poona Club will be a busy place this
Diwali. Pic/Debarati Palit

Preity Modi, who has been organising card parties with her partner Bhavna Kothari for the past two years said, "The major change that we have noticed is that poker is more in demand instead of teen patti. Personalised poker tables, chip sets are ordered. Gold plated fancy cards are distributed. The gold plated cards also have the face of the person printed."u00a0

Chiru Chandavarkar, restaurateur points out that poker is a major attraction in the parties she has attended. "Teen patti has taken a back seat as people are no more interested. They prefer poker."

These parties are not just about the games alone, it's also about the dress, jewellery, food on display and the ambience to match with it. Tarita Shankar, chairperson, Indira Group of Institutes organises card parties every year. She said, "Card parties have become a style statement. This year the dress code of my card party was Indo-western with a DJ playing recent hits and yummy food to go with it. Every body had a good time."

Varsha Chordia, a socialite said, "Everyone takes special efforts to make their party the talk of the town. The preparations for the d ufffdcor, theme is akin to that of a wedding. I have been noticing new creative ideas every year."

With all the fun and frolic, money is also involved. Designer Moushmi Sanas said, "The stakes are just getting bigger. Players don't hesitate to put in huge amounts make their parties even more interesting."