This is the time of the year when you can feel the festivities in the air. Navratri is over and the mother lode of Indian festivals – Diwali – is just around the corner. This is also the time to dress up in your ethnic best, gorge on all the yummy delicacies and of course, play cards! More than the actual playing of cards, the fun is in meeting up with friends and family – something that is increasingly difficult due to the busy lives we all lead. If you are planning to throw a cards party this Diwali, here are some simple tips to help you glam it up (and be a glam hostess too)…
Light It Up
This is, after all, the festival of lights and what better way to make the ambiance festive than to add diyas everywhere? From traditional diyas to frosted glass candle stands to embellished tea-light holders, there is something to suit all tastes and for all surfaces in your house. And if you feel that it is too much of a pain to keep re-lighting the candles / diyas then you can simply get battery-operated ones that give a flickering light just like the real thing.
Flower Power
From exotic blooms to our local variants, the markets are filled with a plethora of colourful flowers. A floral bouquet instantly brightens up the home, whether it is a festival or not. So, of course, when you are having guests over for a festive party, you have to add flowers to your decor. Personally, I prefer the traditional marigolds during Diwali because they are quintessentially Indian and is also holds spiritual significance in our culture. I line up all the surfaces with Marigolds as well as use them to make Rangolis outside the house.
Dazzling Playing Cards
Playing with ordinary cards during Diwali. Now that’s a bit ho-hum. Diwali gives you the licence to bling so why should your playing cards be left out? Get a set of glitzy, gold-plated cards for your festive card party to make the occassion even more special.
Ethnic Glam Outfit
While we all love dressing up in our ethnic best during Diwali, as a hostess, it does get a bit difficult managing everything along with the saree pallu / heavy dupattas. This year, give your ethnic wear a modern twist with unique pairings that are fuss-free and yet very elegant. Check out this post for more inspiration. As for me, this is what I’m going to be wearing…..
One of the outfits that I have mentioned in that post is a pairing of a kurta over a long skirt. What I am wearing is a leheriya kurta over a sleevelss bandhani maxi with a ruffled hemline in “Rani Pink” a shade of fuchsia we Indians have always loved. With minimal embellishments and a comfortable, flowy silhouette, I can attend to my guests without being worried about adjusting my outfit.
Glam Makeup
Organising parties leaves the hostess with very little time to get ready. But you can still do a quick and easy glam look by adding a touch of metallic sheen to your eyes and lips.
And of course, to capture the fun moments of your party, you need the help of the wonderful 13MP rear camera and 8MP front camera of the new Coolpad Note 5. For low lights shots, it has the wonderful Night mode so that you can capture the beautiful gleam of your diyas. And for beautiful selfies, it has the Beauty mode that smoothens out your skin, magically erases blemishes and leaves you looking flawless – even in harsh daylight. All the pictures in this post have been shot on the Coolpad Note 5.
Hope you liked the tips in this post. Do let me know your thoughts in the comments. And your tips on hosting a Diwali Cards party.