For some, festivity uncorks at home

Have you considered partying at home? Well, many will be doing exactly that on New Year’s Eve. True, organising a party at home is a lot cheaper than hitting big-ticket venues, but it is not just about saving money. Home party enthusiasts say there is much more to the scene.

Jaineet Kaur, 24, is throwing a New Year’s bash at her Bandra home to avoid crowds and break away from the monotony of partying out. “You can have more fun within the comforts of your home, without the hustle and bustle of peak hour traffic, especially on the night of December 31 when almost everybody is out on the road,” says Kaur, a lawyer.

Shahzad Karachiwala, head, business development, Pegasus Events, says: “The best thing about a home party is that you can control the crowd. You party with people you want to party with. You also have much more freedom in choosing the drinks, food and music.”
Experimentation is key to throwing a bash at home. And there’s no better way to experiment than organising theme parties. Venu Ryali, 25, cannot agree more. His party theme is boxers. “Guys and gals will be wearing boxers to my bash; on top of their jeans, of course,” says Ryali, an IT professional, smiling.

Though he hasn’t drawn up a budget, he is certain the party will be cheaper than a jamboree somewhere else. “New Year parties cost you a bomb. The whole idea of a home party is that it’s cheap and has double the fun,” Ryali says.

Vanita Rodrigues, co-owner, Joyride, a division of Chase Entertainment, says home party is today what boat parties were four years ago. “After the 26/11 terror attacks, boat parties have become almost redundant.”

Rodriguez also says that partying at home is not only fun and cheap, but also a safe bet considering rash driving on New Year’s Eve. “It’s a time when people love to drink. But because of stricter drunk driving laws and also because partygoers do not want to risk their lives by driving in a sozzled state, a party at home gives them a cushion to drink.

They don’t have to worry about driving home drunk,” Rodriguez says.

Kaur’s party theme is cross-dressing: men will show up in skirts and women in hardcore men’s wear. “While girls are in shorts at home, guys often complain of feeling hot in their jeans. So I just thought of taking the idea a step further,” says Kaur, who is stocking up on water and lemonade — standard hangover cure — as a contingency measure; after all, she’s got a shaker to experiment with refreshing cocktails and expects her guests to get sloshed.

“But the highlight of a home party,” Ryali says, “is uploading crazy pictures on Facebook — up close and personal.”