After burning the Narakasur and enjoying quality time with the family on Diwali, a new trend, at least for Goa, seems to be cropping up to extend the celebrations; the trend of card parties to invite Laxmi (Goddess of Wealth) on the auspicious day of Diwali. Card parties are a symbol of getting money. Whether myth or fact, it is said that if you win the game, your year will go well financially and you could venture into new business with luck on your side.
Manisha Chadda, a Clinical Hypnotherapist who has been living in Goa for the past seven years, was brought up in Delhi. She says, “For us, Diwali is the biggest event of the year. This year, we will be celebrating a quieter Diwali with lighting of diyas and the puja and lots to eat at the festival. We usually have card parties a weekend prior to Diwali and then post Diwali. We sit together and play Flush or Teen Patti, a traditional Diwali game, with the house brightly lit up with the diyas and the general revelry at the game table.”
Traditionally, Diwali is considered to be an auspicious time and the time to welcome the goddess of wealth, Laxmi. “The card games are incomplete without gambling with money as there would be no takers. The games are played in a mixed group of 8-10 people and the cards are divided into three per player. In Goa, the groups are smaller but in places like Delhi, there will be three to four groups playing cards.”
Sheetal Sabharwal is from North India but lived most of her life in Mumbai before settling down in Dona Paula, Goa. Card parties are usually held prior to Diwali, during Diwali and after Diwali and as the trend has progressed, everyone throws a party now. “It is considered lucky to lose in cards for Diwali as it brings in good luck. Diwali taash parties are a big tradition as different houses throw theme parties for card games. Besides the new clothes, grandeur of sweets and presents for the children on the new year, we also celebrate with traditional rangoli, lighting of the diyas and Laxmi puja. We are so happy to light up the house that even the bathroom lights are left on,” says Sheetal.
Sheetal explains that the card parties are not restricted to any particular group of people but are open to all. “Everybody loves to play cards and we invite our friends over and interact with each other. By the end of the evening, we invite the better players for our parties which in turn builds out friends circle. The games are not restricted to just North Indians but we also have Goans, Marwadis, Sindhis who join us to play. We usually meet at around 8pm and continue playing till the wee hours. When you have good food, drinks and cards, it’s always fun,” adds Sheetal.
However, in Goa, parents are more conservative about their children playing cards as the game involves money. “We play Teen Patti which is the traditional game and recently Poker became the new craze among the younger generation. In Mumbai and Delhi, once the teenagers turn 18, they are allowed to play but in Goa we are much more conservative and don’t allow the kids near the cards,” says Sheetal who has been to nearly six parties this season.
