The city’s hospitality industry has got a new theme to reinvent itself with gusto, says Angela Paljor
Delhiites have taken to the Halloween season like no other with costume parties, lighting bonfires, watching horror films and carving pumpkins into Jack-o’-lanterns. Rolling out signature cocktails, crazy adventurism and spooky interiors, the hospitality industry has joined in the consumerist bandwagon with a gusto this year, sometimes stretching the periodicity of its offers. Even Bollywood has lent it legitimacy with none other than Gauri Khan hosting a high-profile spook fest that almost became a launchpad for her daughter on the celebrity circuit.
So why has Halloween become such an intrinsic part of our social calendar, considering we have Diwali in North India which approximates close to it in terms of celebrating good over evil and spreading the light to dispel darknessIJ
Perhaps because, it connects the spirit world to us in a far more entertaining and light-hearted manner. The ritual originated with a Celtic tradition. Ancient Gaels believed that it was a time when the walls between our world and the other became thin and porous, allowing spirits to pass through, come back to life on the day and damage their crops. Places were set at the dinner table to appease and welcome the spirits. Gaels would also offer food and drink and light bonfires to ward off the evil ones. Many dressed up as souls of the dead and were understood to be protecting themselves from the spirits by impersonating them. “The feasting and costume acts made it a spectacle where a bit of the badass and otherness is allowed,” says a party organiser, explaining its currency among the youth today.
While Tabula Beach was the first to introduce Halloween to Delhi in 2007, over the years it has mutated to become a creative outlet for our wild side. “From the last few years, people have started making elaborate efforts in dressing up and doing creative makeup. we have about 1,000 guests everyday. It has become a pop-up creative fest where make-up artists have a field day,” shares co-owner Sahil Gupta. They have two Halloween parties lined up this time — October 31 night is based on Supernatural and November 3 on Stranger Things, both based on popular TV shows. “The age group between 22 to 35 is an active participant. We usually are sold out a week before the event.”
“Gone are the days when you had only die-hard loyalists attending Halloween parties. With the growing number of expats, our own people travelling abroad and the emergence of new concept places, Delhi has become a hub for Halloween lovers,” shares Naveen Sachdeva, owner of Ministry of Beer in Gurgaon and CP, who works hard on creating a spooky environment at his outlet. He also serves five signature cocktails, including the Vamp’s Blood and Voodoo Punch.
Halloween has also gained currency because it adds grist to the theme party circuit. “There is a growing demand from our consumers between 20 to 40 for theme parties now. Since the last two years, the crowd has been huge as Halloween concepts can be clutter-breakers to their weekend fare. The market is reinventing itself and we are stepping out of our comfort zones in bringing the spookiest best,” says Umang Tewari, owner of local and The Junkyard Cafe, who is busy with his team managing theme parties at his various outlets. They will be giving away prizes to the couple who show up at their scariest best.
Kunal Babuta, owner of Big Boyz lounge, too, ascribes the interest in Halloween to the growing expectations of the party circuit. “Five years ago, a Halloween party was just about putting together a few costumes but now the scary weekend is just another excuse to try out some of the funkiest ideas.”
After The lalit’s Derrick Barry and Britney Spears impersonation, which had the crowd in an uproar, they have come up with the idea of Drag-o-Ween, a drag queen event. Guests will have three make-up booths to dress up in drag the way they choose to. Keshav Suri, Executive Director, The lalit Suri Hospitality Group, feels that it takes courage to start a revolution. “But more than that it takes patience to see the magic unfold. That is what Halloween does.”
Gamers can dress up as superheroes for the Oh My Game Halloween laser tag war. “People are looking for new and out-of-the-box options. They are tired of going to the bars because that’s what they usually do on a regular day,” says Aakriti Sethi, founder of Oh My Game.