Sangeet and mehndi games plan

For: 30 to 150 guests, with a stage or cleared floor
Length: About an hour of games, between the dance performances
Games: 5

At a sangeet the games have a job to do: to make two families who barely know each other laugh together. The best ones put members of both sides on stage, need no explanation beyond a sentence from the anchor, and can be watched and cheered by a large audience. Keep each game short, and place them between the dance items so that the evening has rhythm.

The running order

Time	Game	Notes for the host
0 to 10 min	How Well Do You Know the Bride?	Teams from both sides answer; the bride reveals. Collect her answers a week before.
10 to 25 min	The Couple Quiz	The couple of the evening on stage, back to back, with their shoes. Then two more couples: the parents, and the longest-married pair.
25 to 40 min	Hum That Tune	Ladkiwale against ladkewale, three players each. Wedding and old film songs.
40 to 50 min	Newspaper Dance	Six to eight couples of all ages. The crowd-pleaser.
50 to 60 min	Musical Hats	For the children, with paper crowns or mini turbans, so that they have their own moment on stage.

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

What to get ready

The bride's (and groom's) answers, collected in advance
Twenty warm, harmless couple questions
Song slips
Newspaper sheets
Paper crowns for the children
Two cordless microphones and a lively anchor
Small gifts for participants

For the anchor

Introduce people by relation ("the groom's mama, from Jaipur"): it tells the other family who is who.
Keep every game under fifteen minutes.
Tease gently, and only those who enjoy it. Check with the couple beforehand which topics are off limits.
Involve the elders as judges with scorecards.

For a mehndi afternoon

Guests are seated and many have wet mehndi on their hands, so choose games played by voice alone: the bride quiz, song rounds, and Chidiya Ud played with a nod of the head instead of a finger.

For wording, rituals and planning lists, see our neighbour Wedding.

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.