Diwali is a time to celebrate new beginnings, bringing family and friends together to welcome good fortune, happiness and peace. It is about fresh starts and joy is certainly a good place to begin when planning a party as Diwali symbolises a positive intention for the upcoming year and welcomes it in unity with others. Like a lot of things, success when it comes to throwing a good Diwali party is in the preparation. I have been hosting an annual party for close to 30 years, so there is an element of being confident in knowing how to do it well. I also think it’s important to remember that this is a celebration, a time for you to enjoy as well as your guests – joy is infectious.
Before beginning the process of decorating for a Diwali celebration, it is customary to thoroughly clean and declutter. This is part of the way new beginnings are welcomed: a fresh start fit for new intentions. It can also help with planning and preparing for the party itself as you end up with a clean canvas to cover with all the colour and light of the festival.
Diwali is the festival of light and we conjure that magic with all kinds of lighting, from candles of all sorts covering tables and surfaces to sparkling fairy lights. Traditional oil burning diya lamps are crucial to any Diwali party, lighting the pathway and arranged in clusters or illuminating rangoli – decorative designs made from petals and coloured powders.
For me personally, clay Gharaunda – earthen houses often made by hand – are really important. As a child I used to love making these for Diwali with friends and family; crafting doll’s houses together and lighting them up with diyas was magical. I would decorate them with madhubani, a painting style I still practice today. Sometimes I wonder whether constructing Gharaunda started me on the path towards architecture and design. I always found taking this lump of clay and shaping it into a liveable space quite captivating. They are small clay lanterns shaped like houses, and when a candle is placed inside they offer a magical glow that really brings about the spirit of the festival. I used to enjoy making these with friends and family so much as a child, each of us crafting and painting our own. Today, seeing these little clay houses twinkling is transportive.
The main things every Diwali party needs are light, colour and fun in abundance. This is a time of real joy, a time for your most prized serveware, your most beautiful things and your most extravagant pieces. I don’t think I have ever been to a minimalist Diwali party! It's the same for food and I serve lots of Indian dishes of various kinds. I love to combine traditional and contemporary cuisines so I'll have a beautifully dressed Mithai table laden with the traditional sweets served during Diwali, alongside some contemporary savoury options.
Getting dressed up is an absolutely must, I have been known to plan my outfit months ahead. It’s a time to shine, bringing out the finest of everything. Nothing understated goes for Diwali. I encourage young guests to wear traditional outfits every year, it’s a necessity to me and one of the ways I have been coined “Diwali Auntie” - they are used to a few reminders from me that this is a time to come dressed for the occasion.
Diwali is a time to throw open your door and there is a real sense of community. I like to invite a mix of people to my party – friends and family of all ages – and love introducing guests to one another. Diwali is the perfect time to forge new connections and meet new people. Expect to leave at sunrise having danced and partied with friends old and new. A Diwali party is about celebration and joy, so expect a room full of fun.
