THE INVITATION

Your invite can have the look of a pamphlet or can even be written out on a fully blown huge colourful balloon. You could write on it with a dark marker. Or else you could make a cut out of candy floss and stick it on an actual candyfloss stick. On it you can write:

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO

BELA'S FUN MELA.

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY
AND I WANT YOU ALL TO COME
AND JOIN IN THE FUN.

DATE:
TIME:
PLACE:

DRESS CODE: CASUAL OR GYPSY
 

THE DECORATION

This party is best held in the open. You can even have it in your garden or building compound. Decorate the place with colourful balloons and hire a small merry-go-round and a miniature Ferris wheel. You can even get hold of a few ponies from your Neighbourhood Park or beach and let the children have a few rides. 

A candyfloss man and a man selling balloons is an absolute must to add to the atmosphere. See if you can get a 'mehendiwalli' who could also give out bangles to the girls. If you could also have someone giving out hot corn-on the cobs and popcorn it will be great. And don't forget a small stall for bhelpuri.

Just in case you do not want to have such an elaborate do, you can have cut outs of these sellers and draw a beautiful giant wheel on chart paper. You can also ask someone in your family to draw small flowery patterns in henna for the little children, so you do not have to go overboard on the budget. 
 

THE ENTERTAINMENT

MAGIC SHOW: hire a magician, or get a small magic kit, which is freely available in the market today. Now dress up like a magician and perform some simple magic tricks to entertain the children. 

THE CLOWNDOWN: you can hire professionals, or even put up a cute little skit to entertain the children. A few of you could dress up like clowns and just keep knocking each other down. Have a countdown until there is just one clown left. And he could invite the children to come and play with him. 

MAGIC RING: get a Frisbee or a medium sized rubber ring. Place a few small objects, like key chains or small toys or a small set of colourpens, etc. on a gaily covered mattress and ask the children to stand in a line and throw the ring around any of these articles. Whatever they are able to encircle is their prize. 

SHOOTING RANGE: get a harmless toy pistol and ask the children to try their hand at aiming at a range of balloons or even a bulls-eye.

PONY RIDES: hire a few ponies from the nearest beach or park and let the children go on a few rides. Better still if you can manage to get a horse carriage or even a bullock cart.

VENTRILOQUIST ACT.

PUPPETSHOW.

MEHENDIWALLI
 

RETURN GIFTS

1. Stuffed toys
2. Bangles and bindis for the girls. 
3. Small magic trick kits - magic pen/magic glass, etc.
4. Water pistols
5. Puppets.
 

THE CAKE

The cake can be in the shape of a Ferris wheel or a merry-go-round. It can also be in the shape of a bunch of colourful balloons. Or else you can have a beautiful strawberry cake that looks like candyfloss. This sounds divine.
 

BIRTHDAY DRESS

Well you can have your child dress up like a balloon or candyfloss seller or even a magician. If it is a girl, she could wear a Maharashtrian sari and be a bangle seller. Or else simply dress them up like gypsies. You can make her wear a patchy colourful skirt made out of different materials, with a bright blouse and a colourful hair band. Don't forget the bead necklaces and bangles. For the Indian look, she could wear a bright 'ghaghra-choli' and glass bangles. It is also better if she goes barefoot. 

A boy could wear a loose white shirt with tight black trousers and a bright handkerchief round his neck. Or else dress topless with a simple loincloth.
 

AGE GROUP OF CHILDREN

The children should be in the age group of 8- 14 years to fully appreciate this theme. 
 

PARTY FOOD

1. Candy floss
2. Chaat and bhelpuri.
3. Corn on the cob
4. Popcorn
5. Chickpeas and a patties - our good old' ragda patties.
6. Ice lollies - or 'gola sherbet'.
7.    Sugarcane juice.