After the beautiful Carols Evening last Friday the next big event in the DI calendar was the Annual Christmas Get-together. One of the few social clubs of Kolkata that actually celebrates Christmas on December 25th,  DI has quite a reputation to uphold. This also gives a reason for other club members to have a double celebration, as most of them bring in Christmas on 24th evening. They drop in with their DI member friends and make sure the party never ends.

 

 

Indoors@DI, the Courtyard and the Lawns saw the evening's action unfold.  As entertainment plays a major part in making such an event a success, live band Hereafter and DJ Girish teamed up together to make sure guests could not occupy their seats for long. Both the band and the DJ played at regular intervals and the vibes were getting groovy within the walls.The LED dance floor could have given competition to any night club floor and it was hard to believe that this space doubles as our badminton court! 

 

 

Our MC and host for the evening was Jr VP Leslie D'Gama. He had some interesting and fun games for the guests, which he carried out in his trademark witty style, in breaks between the music.

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Gifts were given to the winners of these games - some based on luch and some on competition -  which only made their Christmas evening happier. . A lady in a red-and-green combination, a Gent with the best multicoloured tie, the first couple on the floor, a Gent still wearing a 3-piece suit in the early hours -- all won gifts ranging from Whisky to Wine and Chocolates (from a member) and some Christmas cakes donated by Saldanha bakery. 

 

 

One game, entitled Carry your Cares, saw a group of tough men bodily lift their partners and sprint across the LED floor.  Major disaster was averted as one enthusiastic gent literally threw his partner onto the finish line with a few bumps to her ego more than anything else.  There was a race to get a gent with a Rudolph nose, completely red -- the winner confessed enjoying the process of various ladies kissing him on the nose to make it red. The Secret Santa was anyone who nursed enough weight to want to be Santa -- the lady who won was given a cake to keep her "in shape" for next year.  To get couples onto the floor a lucky card dance and a lucky spot dance were held. A box of chocolates was won by a couple who had completed 31 years of marriage, to match the song Lady in Red, composed 31 years ago!  The last bottle of wine was handed by the MC to a group of ladies in LBDs who danced as a team for quite some time!

 

 

 

The last session was handled by DJ Girish and sparked a little panic when he pumped up the power so much that one of the speakers started burning. But all was well once the MC pulled the plug!  Of more concern were the few smokers who tried to light up under the covered areas - endangering the program, the people and the club.

 

 

The Lawn@DI looked beautiful as it was covered with a dual tone marquee. The decorated roof lights added a nice and soft touch to the already lovely looking set up . Seating arrangements were made in both sections, but it looked like the indoors section was having a real ball with the music, games, et al. 

 

 

If the entertainment part was done to a T, how could F&B be lagging behind?  A specially printed food and wine menu was laid out on all the tables, leaving the guests spoilt for choice . There was something for every palate. From kebabs to rolls to finger snacks and veggie specials. You really had to be from another planet to not enjoy the exhaustively done up menu . Each table had a dedicated waiter and the staff was only too happy to take the orders from the guests.

 

With much fanfare and gusto, DI celebrated Christmas evening , leaving a smile on everyone's faces. The only other thing that can come as close to such an evening would the last party of the year ,the New Year's Eve Party . For which too, I am sure the club has already pulled up its socks. 

 

Picture Credits: Peter Hyrapiet, Beatrix D'Gama, Tanya Robinson

 

[Editor's note:  The organizers had a tough time enforcing the statutory compliances of getting the premises cleared by 1:45 a.m. as required by law.  Members and their guests continued to argue with Council members, Stewards and Bearers as they crawled towards the exits.  However, we have to follow rules in the interest of our club. Please pass the word around. ]