A night to remember
by Nischal Anand Singh
Chandigarh may not be a very happening place for many people, but some city folks have been to very exciting places or really wacky ‘n’ wild bashes on New Year’s eve. Others have special memories of New Year’s eve spent in an unusual way. Here they share their experiences.

• Party Ideas

A night to remember
by Nischal Anand Singh

Chandigarh may not be a very happening place for many people, but some city folks have been to very exciting places or really wacky ‘n’ wild bashes on New Year’s eve. Others have special memories of New Year’s eve spent in an unusual way. Here they share their experiences.

Anu and Bejan Vala remember, "We’ve been to lots of New Year bashes at some great places in Mumbai and Manali as well but nothing compares to the one we had in Goa. It was a terrific experience, to say the least." That was in 1991 at the Anjuna beach ,where they went along with some friends from Mumbai. It was a massive party, which had not only the typical Indian couples but also lots of foreigners, some with painted faces and stuff, huge speakers playing full blast. To top it all, there were about two or three similar parties going on at the same beach, so one can well imagine the atmosphere. With lots of people, loads of feni and gallons of fun, it was a night worth remembering.

So,what makes it so special? Says Anu, "Apart from the fact that the atmosphere was so wonderfully romantic with all that lovely sun ‘n’ sand, the best part was that it was the first time we both went to Goa together after marriage and really had the time of our lives."

The best New Year experience for Renu and Amit Gulati was the one they had in 1997. They went to Jaipur, where they stayed at the magnificent Rajputana Hotel. For the Gulatis, the trip was just like an extended holiday with no restrictions on time or anything. Before New Year they did lots of sightseeing and drove around the place. On New Year night, the ambience was just amazing. "The hotel had put up a false ceiling which was painted blue and had stars hanging from it and it was sooooooo life-like that everytime I would look up while dancing it would appear as if we were dancing under a real starlit sky," says Amit. Naturally, the fact that they’d gone there with their children, Mahima and Mohit, made it a really enjoyable experience, not to mention the fact that they won lots of lucky dips. One of them gave them a night’s stay at the same hotel free of cost.

The most interesting bash Saguna and Manish Jain attended was a Hawaiin theme party.The hosts had strewn bags full of sand on their terrace and had placed baby bath tubs all around to create the beach effect.Thatched huts were erected to serve as food counters. And the cuisine was typically Hawaiin— loads of salads ‘n’ salsa served with a variety of breads.

Saguna donned a floral skirt and top (in spite of the chilly weather!) and accesssorised these with lots of flowers in her hair, neck and on her wrists. Her hubby wore a floral beach shirt with bermudas.The party was thus all about flower power !

For Gulshan and Bobby Virk, last year’s Glitterati theme party on a farmhouse was the most unusual and memorable one. All that glittered was certainly gold—glitter on the floor, shimmering velvety dresses, shining starry decorations and glimmering lights.

Gulshan wore a sequinned gown with lots of shine ‘ n’ sheen and dabbed on loads of golden glitter on her face. Her husband, too, attired in shiny trousers and shirt to complete the effect.

Priti and Sanjiv Verma particularly remember a wacky party, where Priti almost got sozzled. Someone played mischief on her and mixed rum in her coke.But she smelled a rat (or rather rum) and steered clear of the intixicating concoction. Sanjiv’s also been to a bash which was unusual because it was uncommon—a stag party on New Year eve. Girls were strictly barred from this party and the guys were totally footloose and fancy-free.

The New Year celebration that Nidhi and Navneet Singh remember very fondly was the one spent in 1991 in Delhi. Actually, this was at a time when their marriage had been fixed. Nidhi wanted to spend the New Year with her friends in Delhi because after the wedding she was in any case going spend it with Navneet. Navneet offered to accompany her to Delhi, saying that he would spend his New Year with his friends, too.

But on reaching her friend’s place in Delhi, Nidhi learnt that she had already gone off somewhere. So she asked Navneet, who’d been driving her around all this time, to take her to her aunt’s place. Bad luck! Her aunt, too, had left along with her family for some party. Amused at my predicament, Navneet had quipped, "Masi bhi nahin hain kya?" That’s when he told Nidhi that he had no friends in Delhi and just came there to be with her. After that, they put the music on in their old Maruti, got hold of some beer cans and food from a dhabha and welcomed 1992 zipping around on the roads of Delhi!

Party Ideas

Here are some interesting themes for a party on this New Year’s Eve:

Colour themes:
Red and gold is the hottest combination this season. So,why not team up a golden organza gown with a tomato-coloured tassled stole to steal the show. Guys can try out golden tasser kurtas and churidaar pyjamas with crimson embroidery. Else, they can sport a goldenish matte suit with a scarlett cravat.

Hare Krishna Hare Rama:
Get spiritual in flowing saffron robes and gowns and shake a leg to "Dum maro dum, mit jaye ghum...."And throw aside all that gold—instead embellish your hair, arms,neck and ears with strings of marigold.

Political Potboiler:
All ye apolitical beings can form a coalition, at least on New Year eve. Arrive with a bit of a limp as if fresh from a knee surgery, a la Atalji, and have someone dressed up as fiery Mamata Banerjee as your date (It’s all about party politics, right).You can also carry a banner of revolt and strike a different note like silver-haired Congress rebel of the year—Jitendra Prasada.Or dress up as the latest grandmom on the political scene—Sonia Gandhi. And don’t forget to cradle a baby in your arms (your own or a borrowed one !).

Bollywood hungama:
Turn up as the most happening stars of the year. Don your old, discarded clothes and become a refugee, a la the new star kid on the bloc—Abhishek Bachchan. Wear a terrorist mask and arrive as the gun-toting Hrithik of Fiza. Else,dress up in royal finery and do the Karisma act in Zubeidaa.

The tall, husky ones can come suited-booted like the telly sensation of the year—who else but the Big B. And at the stroke of midnight utter in a resonating deep drawl ,’’Is saal ko ......lock kar diya jaye !".

—CB