Party GamesHanging Jalebi Race
Jalebis hang on strings at mouth height, and the players must eat theirs with hands held behind the back. The jalebi swings away, sticks to noses and makes fools of the grandest uncles. It is a fixture of school fetes and colony functions, and the audience enjoys it as much as the players.
- Ages
- 6 and up
- Players
- 4 to 12 at a time
- Time
- 10 minutes
- Place
- a doorway, verandah or two poles
- Energy
- active
- Group size
- Small group (4 to 8), Medium group (9 to 20)
- Good for
- Children, Teenagers, Adults, All ages together, Ladies' parties, Office
What you need
A long rope or washing line, thin thread, one jalebi (or a biscuit with a hole, a doughnut or a slice of bread) per player, napkins.
How to play
- Tie the rope across a doorway or between two poles, a little above head height.
- Tie one jalebi to a thread for each player and hang the threads from the rope so that each jalebi is level with that player's mouth. Leave an arm's length between threads.
- Players stand under their jalebi with hands clasped behind their backs.
- On "Go", everyone tries to eat the whole jalebi without using hands.
- A jalebi that falls to the ground is out of the race. Give that player a fresh one to eat for fun, but not to win.
Who wins
The first to finish the whole jalebi, with empty mouth shown, wins.
Variations and tips
- For mixed heights, have helpers hold the two ends of the rope and adjust it for each heat.
- A helper may jiggle the rope for older players to make it harder.
- Run it as a team relay: each member eats one and then tags the next.
Safety and kindness
Ask about food allergies and diabetes first, and offer a plain biscuit or a fruit ring as an alternative. No running with food in the mouth. Use fresh sweets, hung just before the game, and keep flies away.
Common problems and how to fix them
- The thread cuts through the soft jalebi. Use crisp jalebis and thread them through two loops, or use ring biscuits.
- Tall players finish at once. Hang theirs slightly above mouth level so that they must stretch.
Party plans that use this game
Host tools
Time the round with the party timer, make chits or random teams with the chit maker, and keep the points on the scoreboard.
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See all 29 party games.