At pre-Diwali baithaks in cafes and homes, open-mic live jamming community Soul Strings’ sessions get audiences singing along – from O Re Piya to Sanu Nehar Wale Pul Te Bulake, there is truly something for everyone at the baithaks
Brass urli candles placed in a bed of genda and adorned with gota embellishments add another layer of warmth to the space” You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Delhi | Silver Rate in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi | Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Petrol Price in Delhi | Diesel Price in Delhi | CNG Price in Delhi | LPG Price in Delhi Stay updated with the latest Delhi news.
Friends can celebrate together, while guests who arrive independently or with smaller groups find themselves sharing the same musical experience and connecting,” he says. It becomes wallpaper,” he says. Adding, he says, “Baithaks were always meant to be intimate – a few people and a lot of feeling. A musical baithak shifts the focus from superficial entertainment to a shared, immersive experience,” she says. “The setting is an important part of the experience, with floor seating, plush bolsters, colourful dhurries, low chowkis and brass urlis with floating marigolds and candles helping recreate the intimacy of a traditional mehfil,” adds Shubhra.
This Diwali, the party playlist is getting a live spin. From cafes hosting mehfils or a Sufiyana-themed shaam where strangers find common ground in familiar songs to living rooms turning into intimate baithaks, music is taking centre stage at festive gatherings. The idea is to balance the high-energy party games with soulful melodies, Bollywood singalongs, and evenings where the music does the talking. Cafes turn to music-forward mehfils Cafes are curating music-forward mehfils and Sufi shaams this Diwali, offering an alternative to conventional festive parties. At pre-Diwali baithaks in cafes and homes, Soul Strings jamming sessions get audiences singing along. At a recent baithak, lead vocalist Nishant, along with Anurag Singh and Rhythm Dhingra, began with softer melodies before moving to familiar Bollywood numbers, Sufi favourites and Punjabi folk songs. From O Re Piya and Hariharan’s Tu Hi Re to Sanu Nehar Wale Pul Te Bulake and Paar Chanaa De, the setlist moved across genres, drawing guests into the music as the tempo picked up. For Abhinav Jindal, founder of BeeYoung Brewgarden in Panchshila Park, the idea of Roshni & Raag Baithaks is to offer an alternative to conventional festive parties. “The baithaks are about making room for a different kind of celebration. One where the music takes centre stage, and conversations happen at their own pace. The baithaks also open up the possibility of bringing different groups of people, including those from diverse age groups, into the same space. In frame: Soul Strings at a Raag & Roshni baithak at Beeyoung Brewgarden ‘Baithaks were always meant to be intimate – a few people and a lot of feeling’ Girjashanker Vohra, co-founder of Depot48 in GK2, aims to make music the main event. “Diwali parties have become all décor and volume. Everyone’s shouting, nobody’s listening. We’ve run sound at enough of those nights to know what it does to the music. The festive programme spans Hindustani classical music, ghazals, Sufi, folk and indie sounds. The line-up includes Dr Tanushree Kashyap Sharma, Mehfil-e-Yashraj, The Aahvaan Project, Azad and Abhidaan. Attendees Sneha Srinivasan and her husband say that such an evening was another opportunity to enjoy music together. “We love music, and our idea of celebration means enjoying good music. We are looking for any excuse to go out and sing, so for Diwali we opted to enjoy the Roshni baithak,” shares Sneha. For documentary filmmaker Tanusree Banerjee, who travelled from Gurgaon, the evening was worth the trip. “My friend Anindita Sengupta invited me to hang here for a festive evening. It was fun to see people of all age groups vibing together. From Sufi shaams to Bollywood singalongs at home Musical baithaks are also finding a place in private Diwali celebrations. For Shubhra Yadav, party curator and founder of The Indian Hosting Co, the appeal lies in the opportunity for genuine connection. “People are craving genuine warmth and real conversations. “Apart from elevated game nights and supper clubs, musical baithaks are a popular feature this Diwali. They bring the energy of a live concert into the comfort of a home, offering that feeling of losing yourself in the moment without the chaos, crowds or exhaustion of a large event. Creator and businesswoman Diksha Singhi and her husband, Nisheet, have been hosting a Diwali party for five years now. This year, they hosted a musical baithak that began with soulful melodies, moved to nostalgic Bollywood favourites and eventually turned into a dance night, ending with Kal Ho Naa Ho. Content creator Diksha Singhi hosted a musical baithak at their home this year that began with soulful melodies, moved to nostalgic Bollywood favourites Kriti Bhatnagar and Ankit Raj, founders of Ninaad, who have been busy singing at many home parties across NCR, including Diksha’s, say, “Diwali celebrates the light within us, and music helps us feel it a little more. In the middle of life’s chaos, a baithak lets us unplug from the world, sing a little, and reconnect with ourselves. Sometimes, all it takes is a song to remind us that our inner light is still shining. From mellow music like Mann Ki Lagan and Aaj Jaane Ki Zid Na Karo to peppy songs like Karan Aujla’s For A Reason,” they say. Food and decor that fit the baithak setting Chefs recommend fast, easy-to-serve options tailored for musical gatherings, such as chaat boards, cheese boards paired with fuljhari sticks and chips, or churro bites with rabri . Chefs recommend fast, easy-to-serve options tailored for musical gatherings (Pic: @the_party_platters) Karigari founder chef Harpal Singh Sokhi suggests menus that complement the intimate ambience. He suggests, “Menus featuring distinctive Indian flavours work particularly well, from signature starters like paneer margherita tikka, to chicken sajji for non-vegetarians, followed by comforting Indian curries, traditional breads and festive desserts. Chef Srinivas, brand chef of Chor Bizarre, recommends beginning with drinks and small appetisers, moving to easy-to-eat finger foods and serving the main course in bowls so guests can continue enjoying the music. His suggestions include kesar pista thandai shots, mini khasta kachori and mini paneer tikka rolls. ‘Fresh flowers instantly lift a room, and nothing compares to the glow of candles and diyas’ (Pic: @mytablebyanujagupta) Tablescapist and space curator Anuja Gupta, founder of My Table by Anuja Gupta shares, “If you’re hosting an intimate baithak at home, you can embrace Indian-inspired details for decor, from hand-painted terracotta figures like horses, elephants, tortoises and anaar to gulmohar, lotus and marigold arrangements set in traditional paraats or experiment with floral wreaths hung as wall art. Download the TOI App.
