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How to have a Bollywood party

Bollywood party ideas - costumes

Females - Indian Saris (also spelt saree)

How to get one:

1) Borrow one off a friend
2) Buy one (try the internet, or Indian clothes stores)
3) Make one! See instructions below.

How to make a passable party sari with little sewing skills:

• Wear:
  • a close fitting tshirt (this will be visible so make sure it matches your exotic material below), or
  • three-quarter sleeve tshirt, or
  • either of the above two but cropped (i.e. just under your bust), OR
  • singlet top, tank top, or boob tube (depends how much of your arms you want to expose).
• Wear a longish, A-line, skirt. If you don't have one, then a petticoat could work as well. (The colourful sari material will be wrapped around your skirt, and tucked into your skirt/petticoat).
• Buy some exotic looking patterned material, at least 4 metres (depending on your size), and proceed to wrap once around your skirt, tucking into the top of it, and then flipping the remaining bit over your shoulder. Pin in place.
• Can't get/afford exotic looking material? Buy some plain, but brightly coloured fabric, eg. hot pink, and stick plastic jewels, or gold sequins on with a bit of craft glue, or use a gold pen to put your own pattern (fun!)
• Optional, buy extra material and attach to your head like a veil (see first pic below).

Bollywood Fancy Dress for Men

• Wear long white cotton tops, or a white shirt will do. Don't tuck into your pants. It needs to hang out below your bum.
• Wear cotton pants - suggest plain, or pastel coloured cotton pyjama pants. Pick some up at a cheap clothes shop, or borrow from your Dad/Grand Dad.
• Optional: Wear a colourful turban - see below for what it should end up looking like.
• Optional: A beard or moustache
• Optional: Long scarf hung over one shoulder, or around neck. See photos below.
• Accessories: A spot between your eyebrows or a bindi (stick on squiggle available from jewellery shops).
• Accessories: Wooden bead necklace, a sitar, a long pipe, bongo drums, plastic snake and windpipe. Some men in India wear Fez hats.
• Shoes: wear sandals

Actually planning to host a Bollywood party?
Here's some ideas to get you started

Food

• Indian nibbles - chickpeas, Bombay mix, murykus (fried yellow stick like delectables
• Pappadums
• Natural yoghurt (nice to dip pappadums into)
• Mango Chutney (ditto)
• Some little, or chopped up pickles
• Samosas / curry puffs
• Tandoori Chicken pieces on skewers (you can buy pre-marinated ones at the supermarket these days, just put them in the grill, or on the BBQ).
• Roti bread
• A few curry selections (lentil is a good idea for vegetarian guests)
• Lassi drinks. Not to be confused with the dog, Lassi is a cool, refreshing drink, which is traditionally made from yogurt and water, and flavoured with something sweet like mango, and then served in a glass with ice.
• Indian desserts - if you're not used to them, Indian desserts can be incredibly sweet. If you can't find a shop to buy them from, you might want to be adventurous and have a go making some yourself. We found this website with some good photos and instructions http://www.indianfoodforever.com/desserts/
  　

Music/DVD suggestions

• 'Bend it Like Beckham CD'
• Most music stores will sell Indian compilation music, or music that gives you a taste for Indian music. India has some amazing dance music with sitars and everything happening. Go suss them out.
• For atmosphere, you could go to your local video store and hire a few Bollywood classics. Play them back to back on your TV for visual effect.
• Dance option: Pick a scene from one of the Bollywood films and learn the steps. Get your guests to dance it together on the night!
  　

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