Festival gathering plan

For: 10 to 25 relatives and friends
Length: About 75 minutes
Games: 5

Festivals bring people together who meet once a year, dressed up and well fed. The games should suit good clothes and full stomachs, include the elders, and carry a little of the festival in them. Each game below has a festive twist. Many families also play cards at Diwali; we suggest keeping games free of money, so that the evening is remembered for laughter.

The running order

Time	Game	Notes for the host
0 to 15 min	Taste and Tell	Festival twist: use the festival's own foods. At Diwali, bits of different mithai; at Lohri, rewri, gajak, peanuts and popcorn.
15 to 30 min	Hum That Tune	Festival and seasonal songs, old and new.
30 to 45 min	Don't Say It	Cards on the festival: diya, rangoli, bonfire, resolution. Children write them in the afternoon.
45 to 60 min	Musical Hats	Paper crowns, mini turbans or party hats for New Year.
60 to 75 min	Raja Mantri Chor Sipahi	A quiet end for the late evening, in small circles.

Timings are a guide. Stop any game while people still want more, and drop one if you are running late.

What to get ready

Small bowls of festival foods and clean spoons
Song slips
Blank cards and pens
Paper hats
Chits and a score sheet
A few wrapped sweets as prizes

Themed twists

Diwali: a rangoli-making contest in teams with flower petals for the afternoon; "stick the flame on the diya" in place of the bindi.
Lohri: boliyan and song rounds round the fire, with popcorn for points.
Holi: play the dry indoor games in the evening after the colours; a balloon keep-up for children.
New Year: a "year in review" quiz about the family's own year, with questions written by the children.
Christmas: wrap the mummy becomes "build a snowman".

Safety at festivals

Keep games well away from diyas, candles, bonfires and fireworks. No game should involve fire in any form. Loose dupattas and paper hats near a flame are a real danger; play indoors or clear of the lamps.

The games in this plan

On the day

Keep the party timer and the scoreboard open on your phone, and prepare chits with the chit maker. First time as host? Read how to host party games. See all party plans.