Mahjong finds a seat at the Diwali party table

What once used to be a popular social engagement among Indian army wives in cantonment towns has now made inroads in Delhi’s elite circle as its favourite party game. The popularity of Mahjong, a 19th century Chinese tile game, started making news last year. From then to now it has skyrocketed to an extent that Mahjong has acquired a high table at Diwali parties. The game’s social status and engagement score even seem to exceed the popularity of traditional games like Teen Patti at Diwali parties. Now, a setup or two for Mahjong with highly engrossed players has become a common sight at parties this festive season.‘Now most Diwali parties have a Mahjong setup or two’Fashion designer Ritu Beri, a proud Army kid who’s grown up watching her mother play Mahjong, shares that she is surprised at how the game, which she saw her mom playing all her life, has now become the talk of the town. “In the Army, it was the one game that everyone played, there was no Rummy or anything else, for army wives it was only Mahjong. I still remember my mom had the most beautiful ivory Mahjong set, a rare set. It is so nostalgic for me when someone says, ‘Let’s meet over Mahjong,’” she tells us.The ‘game of luck and strategy’ has been popular at theme parties, and we have been told that there is “hardly any upscale kitty party that doesn’t have Mahjong.” Given its popularity, it is understandable when we are told that Karwa Chauth Mahjong events and parties were a hit this festive season.“I do Mahjong events and parties with my friends regularly and it was one of the most appropriate fit for a Karwa Chauth gathering. This game keeps you engrossed, you actually can spend hours playing it. Once you start playing, it gets so interesting that you lose track of time. Now most Delhi parties have Mahjong setups and it is as popular as card games, even more,” says Sunayana Bhinder Chibba, who has been organising Mahjong parties for her friends.‘Mahjong is replacing games like Rummy and Teen Patti’Along with parties, there are also festive events being organised by Mahjong-exclusive clubs with hundreds of members across cities. The growing interest has also turned Mahjong into a reason to host a party rather than just as an activity. From private sessions among friends to larger gatherings organised by clubs, the game has acquired a social calendar of its own. Mumbai-based Ria Bajaj, co-founder of The Mahjong Network, shares, “Ever since the beginning of the festive season, we have been flooded with queries to arrange Mahjong events and private parties. We have an event or a party happening every two days in the city and requests are still pouring in.”And while Mahjong may have traditionally been associated with women’s social gatherings, its growing popularity is now drawing interest from everyone. So much so that even restaurants are looking to cash in on the trend by adding Mahjong to their festive celebrations. Maneka Jain Daswani, Ria’s partner and co-founder of The Mahjong Network based in Delhi, adds, “This festive season Diwali card parties are being replaced by Mahjong parties as it is no longer a ladies’ game. It will be safe to say that Mahjong is fast replacing party games like Rummy or Teen Patti.”‘People are requesting crash courses for the game’The spike in Mahjong’s popularity has also led to many seeking crash courses for the game, especially in the festive season. Noida-based Mahjong coach from Indian Mahjong Association, Vineeta Sahni, who has been playing Mahjong for over three decades now and is also teaching the game now, says that she has been getting requests every day from people who want to learn Mahjong in a couple of hours. “Some people are only seeing this as a social engagement activity and to be a part of the circle, they are looking for crash courses, but the game is not learnt this way. We conduct sessions to introduce the game, provide tables and even train individuals who are interested in learning the game. We recommend a three-hour class to learn and I think five classes are essential. During the festive season, we are witnessing a demand for trainers by those hosting Mahjong parties,” says Vineeta.Get the latest Bollywood & Entertainment News, and more. Download the TOI app.Give your child the gift of confidence! Claim your exclusive TOI Masterclass spot today!