Party Pack!

Sometimes honey, it8217;s not only about the money! While playing cards may be an integral and 8216;auspicious8217; part of most pre-Diwali bashes...

It8217;s not high stakes, but camaraderie that8217;s on the cards at a Diwali bash

Sometimes honey, it8217;s not only about the money! While playing cards may be an integral and 8216;auspicious8217; part of most pre-Diwali bashes, the party8217;s true essence is celebrating the festivity and joy with friends. Laughter, chatter, good food, games8230;every night is a celebration of fun and friendship. A tradition is how most choose to call their parties, a must-do, year after year.

Diwali is a time to reconnect, let your hair down and be in the company of people you love, smiles Rachna Mehra, who runs a coaching centre and makes sure each Diwali get-together is an affair to remember. 8220;We always say that if you play cards, you invite Laxmi to your home. So for us, it8217;s all about having a carefree time together and not winning or losing, the idea being to be together in this festive mood,8221; the 12-15 of them set aside a kitty after every round for food and drinks, so that it all can ordered and no one has to cook. 8220;There8217;s nothing flashy or formal about the bash and the party just gets better with time,8221; adds the lady.

8220;Cards are only an excuse to meet up,8217;8217; Jaideep Sekhon, a company executive makes sure the plan is in place two weeks before Diwali and at least, three hours starting 9 pm are reserved for the group. Many in Sekhon8217;s close-knit group don8217;t play cards, but are always there for company. This, smiles Jaideep, is the time of the year when people are relaxed, don8217;t feel guilty about eating, sleeping late and simply relaxing. 8220;And it8217;s such a great way to catch up on lost time and play on really small stakes, mostly calling in for food we all like,8221; says Sekhon.

For more than 25 years, Preeti Gill and her comrades have been celebrating Diwali parties almost like a ritual, taking turns to hold the 8216;event8217;, which everyone awaits every year. 8220;It8217;s a tradition that even our children are carrying forward now,8221; Preeti says the parties are absolute mast affairs, with each one of them taking turns to host the party and cook a feast. 8220;We have many non-playing friends, who make sure they cheer their favourite players,8217;8217; Gill adds a surprise and fun element to every party .

Supriya Singh, a banker, soon after Dusshera has afternoon parties every weekend and the venue remains her home. A potluck is what this gang of girls organizes and after the chatting session is over, there are games to be played and prizes to be won. 8220; We make sure we dress up, catch up for at least, three hours and play two serious games of flash and whoever wins the maximum has to treat too! 8220;We just ask for chocolates,8221; smiles Supriya.

Card sessions before Diwali is like a ceremony, which Akhil Bhanot, a property consultant and his friends have been attending since they were together in college, with many friends joining in for festivities from other cities! Many in the group have been together since school and this is the moment they bond and go down memory lane. 8220;What8217;s more, our wives and children have formed their own bonds and it8217;s a huge family affair, one that lasts for more than four hours daily, some two weeks before the festival and we keep shifting venues, ordering or dishing out new cuisines,8221; Akhil gets ready to play!

Parul

Parul is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express in Chandigarh. She is a seasoned journalist with over 25 years of experience specializing in public health, higher education, and the architectural heritage of Northern India. Professional Profile Education: Graduate in Humanities with a specialized focus on Journalism and Mass Communication from Panjab University, Chandigarh. Career Path: She began her career covering local city beats and human interest stories before joining The Indian Express in 2009. Over the last decade and a half, she has risen to the rank of Principal Correspondent, becoming the publication’s primary voice on Chandigarh’s premier medical and academic institutions. Expertise: Her reporting is deeply rooted in the institutional dynamics of PGIMER (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) and Panjab University. She is highly regarded for her ability to navigate complex administrative bureaucracies to deliver student-centric and patient-centric news. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2024 - 2025) Her recent work highlights critical reporting on healthcare infrastructure, academic governance, and urban culture: 1. Public Health & PGIMER "PGIMER expands digital registry: Centralized patient records to reduce wait times by 40%" (Nov 20, 2025): A detailed look at the digital transformation of one of India's busiest medical institutes to tackle patient influx. "Robotic Surgery at PGI: Why the new urology wing is a game-changer for North India" (Oct 12, 2025): Reporting on the acquisition of state-of-the-art medical technology and its impact on affordable healthcare. "Shortage of life-saving drugs: Inside the supply chain crisis at government pharmacies" (Dec 5, 2025): An investigative piece on the logistical hurdles affecting chronic patients in the tri-city area. 2. Education & Institutional Governance "Panjab University Senate Election: The battle for institutional autonomy" (Dec 18, 2025): In-depth coverage of the high-stakes internal elections and the friction between traditional governance and central reforms. "Research funding dip: How PU’s science departments are navigating the 2025 budget cuts" (Nov 5, 2025): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing researchers and the impact on India's global academic ranking. 3. Art, Culture & Heritage "Le Corbusier’s legacy in peril: The struggle to preserve Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex" (Dec 22, 2025): A feature on the conservation efforts and the tension between urban modernization and UNESCO heritage status. "Chandigarh Art District: How street murals are reclaiming the city’s grey walls" (Oct 30, 2025): A cultural profile of the local artists transforming the aesthetic of the "City Beautiful." Signature Style Parul is known for her empathetic lens, often centering her stories on the individuals affected by policy—whether it is a student navigating university red tape or a patient seeking care. She possesses a unique ability to translate dense administrative notifications into actionable information for the public. Her long-standing beat experience makes her a trusted source for "inside-track" developments within Chandigarh’s most guarded institutions. X (Twitter): @parul_express ... Read More