Everything you need to know to crack the virtual garba party this year

While Unlock 50 and the reopening of restaurants may have brought some cheer to Mumbai crowding remains a foolish idea in a city that continues to struggle to bring its COVID19 count numbers under control Following quiet festivities in the last few months the upcoming Navratri celebrations are also expected to be subdued With social distancing norms in place the nineday festival that begins on October 17 this year will not be celebrated on the usual scale However the virtual age allows us to connect with friends and relatives over the Internet with some amount of fun And we can dress up and dance ourselves senseless even at home We got experts to tell you exactly howMake the eyes stand outWITH masks being a must when outside celebrity makeup artiste Bianca Louzado recommends wearing nontransfer makeup It is best to focus on the eyes since outside the mask its your most visible feature Use only waterproof mascara and eyeliner since you dont want it to run when sweating Use a primer as base so that your makeup lasts longer Use transferproof lipstick which should stay in place for up to eight hoursLouzados first step is to ensure that the skin is treated well before the makeup is put onShe then defines the eyes of her model with waterproof kohl and gel liner and uses glitter on the eyesLouzado suggests blending a meacutelange of earthy toned eyeshadows brown and dull gold Tone the highlighter and use on the brow bone and use a transition colour in the crease of the eyes she saysThe makeup should also work on the bridge of the noseHere Louzado has played the lips up with a beautiful mix of coloursmdashrust orange and taupePro tip Use glitter subtly but imaginatively to draw attention to your eyesQuick pointersUse skin carevitamin C serum and moisturising cream for your skins health It helps from within and withoutUse glitter since its festive season and you want to draw attention to your eyesDo not wear lip gloss as it will stick to your maskDo not use make up brushes that have been lying unused for months Ensure you give them a good wash in shampoo and quick spritz of cosmetic disinfectant before useDress comfy but glamorousAccessorise the outfit with chunky bracelets and bangles Keep the earrings large but light so you arent bothered by the weight as you swingDressing up for home can be awkward And while its okay to skip the heavy ghagracholi theres no reason to be a slouch Riddhi Doshi movement therapy practitioner and founder of the Dance and Textile Project says It is important to dress comfortably Ensure that you can move freely in whatever you wear For a fussfree look Doshi suggests pairing a blackwhite kurta with a bright palazzomdashpreferably in cotton as it makes it easier to dance in the October heat Throw in a bandhani or leheriya with an embroidered mirrorwork dupatta for a Gujarati dandiya night feel Another option is to wear a bright blouse over a skirt and throw in a dupatta for a more festive lookThose opting for the saree should try draping a bandhni leheriya with zari work pallu in Gujarati style Accessorise with bold but light earrings a statement neck piece a finger ring and multiple bangles or a thick cuff Go all out festive by adding a traditional maang tikka and nose ring she addsMen can pair a batikprint shirt with jeans Or keep it simple with a blackwhite kurta and drape a brightcoloured dupatta around the neck Add an ethnic coat pin to up the style quotientPro tip Go all out with the choice of dupatta Red green blue bright pink purple and indigo look great on screenDo up your dance cornerNayantara Sangtani suggests decorating a corner of your home for video calls and online garba partiesItsdifficult to dress up a home which invites no guests But nothing announces festive cheer like happy home deacutecor Nayantara Sangtani event stylist and founder of Dinners By Nayantara says Garba settings involve a lot of fire as it essentially comes from the term garbha deep which means a lantern representing life So the first step for your virtual setting is to use plenty of candles lamps and diyas Just be careful not to keep them too close to where you dance Stick to a twocolour theme Pick from yellow pink and orangemdashthey look great on screen as well A good idea would be to have a common theme for all guests Get everyone on a group chat or Zoom call and share representative festive images so that everyone is clued into what the background of their performance space should look likeBefore selecting the virtual space for your call check the lighting Make sure it gets natural light if it is a day party For after sundown ensure the space is welllit so that everyone can see you and the deckedup space on screen Set the screen in the direction that light falls on your face not on your backAs for the frame Sangtani warns that holding the camera too close to your body can cut your dance and decor out of the frame Also balance the background music to the right volume to set the right mood and ambiencePro tip While styling your home for a virtual party stick to a twocolour themeDance like everyones watchingMovement therapist Riddhi Doshi says wearing a heavy ghagracholi at home might be tiring Instead a light attractive kurta with cotton palazzos glitter trimmings with dupatta or bandhani saree works betterDOSHI who has been conducting online garba training thinks garbadandiya is easy flexible and meant to be enjoyed with friends and family The formation of a circle is the best way to feel synergy and oneness of communityDoshi recommends choosing steps that focus on the upper body as in a virtual setting the lower body may not be visible Choreograph steps that can be performed while seated since your performance space is confined to a small box on screen Choose steps that are both graceful and energetic to make up for the absence of a physical gatheringDoshi says it is best to be versatile with the songs Start with a slow number to warm up your group and then move to fast tracks Choose a mix of Bollywood and Gujarati songs so that everyone from old and young inside and outside the Gujarati community can join in Download all your songs in advance and create a playlistDont play songs from YouTube since the ads will break the flowChoose from these stepsDoshi suggests doing versions of the do taali teen taali taalichapti and chapti rolls when choreographing sequences for online home partiesTeen Taali This popular garbadandiya step is easy and can be done in many variations One clap above your head hands stretched second at your chest level and third a little above your knees This order can also be reversed Another variation apt for a virtual session while you sit one clap on your right waist level second above your head hands stretched and third on your left again waist levelDo taali This is done by clapping above your head and below at the thigh level while stepping in and out with your right leg While clapping imagine that you are collecting something with both your hands before clapping above and for the clap below you clap and leave behind something stretching your hands all the way behindTaalichapti Bend your hands and throw your right hand on top of your head left hand at your neck level parallel to each other and snap Then clap Next place your left hand on top and right hand belowChapti rolls Snap your fingers and roll your hands around each other once in an imaginary circle four times One in right two in centre and third on left and move your waist slightly while sitting When standing step ahead with your right leg four times while moving in a semicircle and let your waist roll slightly to the right along with your handsPro tip Choreograph steps that can be performed while seated since your performance space is limited to a small box on screenKeep scrolling to read more newsCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and a complete guide from food to things to do and events across Mumbai Also download the 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