A group of young women sit and stand around a sofa as they finish preparing their hair and outfits.
Kitty party

In India, kitty parties are social events held as part of an informal savings club. It is a kind of party usually organized by women, and commonly held in the afternoon on a monthly basis.[1]

History

Kitty parties began in India during the early 1950s, in the aftermath of the 1947 partition.[2][3] Initially, the informal savings events were hosted at home by middle-class women in northern Indian states, such as Punjab or Uttar Pradesh, whose families were struggling to recover financially from the turmoil caused by partition.[2] Alongside the financial aspect, kitty parties also created a valuable social outlet for women, many of whom were not culturally permitted to work or travel much outside the home.[3][4]

By the 1980s, the growth of consumerism in Indian society meant that kitty parties had evolved and were also becoming popular with wealthier women, who used it as a way to save for more expensive household items.[2] Kitty parties continue to be popular in India today, and can be found in other South Asian countries and in parts of the world where Indian diaspora communities have formed, such as Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States.[2][3][5] While the events are still primarily organized by groups of women, some modern variations have included couples and family kitty parties, which allow partners and children to participate,[2] and the emergence of men's kitty parties.[6]

Organization and entertainment

Kitty refers to the amount collected at the party, every member contributing a certain sum of money each month. The kitty is handed over to one member of the group every month.[1] Chit funds operate along similar principles, and the chit-fund association of India has estimated there are thousands of Indian companies that include management of kitty party funds as part of their services, although these companies tend to be interested only in higher value kitty party funds.[7]

It is usually held at a specified time each month, by a specific group of women. Every member of the group has to host a party at least once. The hosting member organizes food and other logistics.[8] In most of India and Pakistan, it is usually simply referred to as a 'committee'.

At meetings, members may share personal stories, business tips, family recipes, or general "skills and hacks."[3] Entertainment can include guest speakers, cooking demonstrations, themed costume parties, parlour games, tarot card readings, and more.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b Biraia, Pooja; Modak, Tejas (15 October 2011). "The new, revised kitty party". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Sunder, Kalpana (29 August 2020). "Kitty Parties: A Sisterhood of Savings Empowering Indian Women". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  3. ^ a b c d Goyal, Darshita (30 May 2022). "Inside the Empowering World of Indian Kitty Parties". Refinery29. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  4. ^ Deepak, Sharanya (5 September 2018). "Inside India's Kitty Parties: Where Community, and Snacks, Crowd the Table". TASTE. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  5. ^ Suad, Joseph, ed. (2003). Encyclopedia of Women and Islamic Cultures: Family, Law and Politics. Vol. 2. Brill. p. 532. ISBN 978-90-04-12818-7.
  6. ^ Patowari, Farzana (19 September 2019). "Rise of Men's Kitty Parties in Bhopal". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  7. ^ Chengalpattu, S. A. (2 November 2012). "One for the kitty". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
  8. ^ "Rahul Gandhi delights Lucknow kitty party". NDTV.com. Press Trust of India. November 17, 2010. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
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