Kid’s Birthday Parties in India are nowhere close to what we do in the US in terms of celebration. I remember growing up my birthday consisted of family dinner the night of usually at some Italian restaurant and then when I was a kid we would usually have an afternoon BBQ at home with friends or rent out a section of the local pizzeria. With my boys it was somewhat similar although usually something was brought to the party like an animal, magician, etc. As they got older it became pizza, video games somewhere or bowling, and having friends spend the night. None of these hold a candle to what I have seen thus far in India when it comes to kid’s birthdays.
To start the following example is just that — an example. It is a good representation of what we have typically experienced in the multiple birthday parties Tenley has been invited too. We were extremely thankful and gracious to our hosts as they were very attentive and ran an amazing event.
So first, maybe not surprising but in India the birthday parties are huge. Its not just friends of the kid and your friends, but family and neighbors too.
There are always banners, colorful signs, and balloons a plenty. Balloons on the wall, on the ceiling, and balloon arches!
This particular birthday party was themed after the Kung Fu Panda movie. Honestly, I have never seen the film, but the hosts did a great job with decorations and events. And boy did they have events. First there was a group brought in to have us all learn a few African songs on these little drums. They taught us what to say and how to do the beats for three different songs. Tenley loved it!
Following a half hour of drumming, the little kids played a race where they stuck pasta noodles on their faces and tried to walk across the room before they fell off. It was hilarious watching them balance and then ripping the noodle off and eating it. Then the father of the birthday boy, dressed up as the old turtle from the movie and did a story with the kids followed by a building wide Treasure Hunt. They did a great job because it took the kids almost 45 minutes to run around the building and apartment looking for clues. Once that was finished we had a very delicious and well decorated birthday cake. I was told this only cost around $15 but it was themed, was chocolate and even had fondant. Last time I saw a pretty cake like this it was a wedding cake and it was $1000!. We sang happy birthday and in traditional Indian style the person with the highest authority in the house feeds the birthday boy and then the birthday boy then feeds the other person a bite of cake. It is meant to continue with various people feeding each other by hand but then the cake was cut up and served.
The party was fully catered. There were servers walking around with appetizers and there was a buffet dinner — Veg only as most people are here in Pune. It was extravagant. They had a photographer and a videographer. It was something to be seen and marveled at.
I have been to other birthday parties too — some rent out entire building spaces that have alot of fun kids games and toys, others hosted a mini carnival at our apartment building. All included full catering. Granted these are all on different budgets but you are talking about a fraction of what it would cost in the US. Maybe a couple hundred dollars. Just wild. They sure do like to spoil their children!
Now we have to plan our Tenley’s birthday coming up in early November. What India style party will she get? Stay tuned!
Richey's Travel Adventures 