It was all about making merry through the evening and welcoming Christmas at Ballantine’s Stay True Glassware presents The Telegraph X-Mas Eve at Tollygunge Club. After the Covid hiatus in the past two years, Tollygunge Club celebrated its traditional Christmas eve after a long time by choosing their Bamboo Grove as the party spot for the evening. Members old and new and their guests revelled in the open-air ambience as music, dance and food added to the spirit of the celebration. Snapshots.
Decor
Fairy lights and traditional Christmas decor lit up the entrance and the way to the Bamboo Grove
Club speak
“This was the traditional Christmas Eve party that used to take place always. Now it is what we call ‘back to the Bamboo Grove’ and we expect everyone to have a blast. The members are very happy that we are celebrating it the old way. Tolly is all about having fun in a traditional way and it is always going to be like this,” said Sanjiv Dhir, president, Tolly Club.
Spotted
Arindam Sil with Shukla. “Doing our own Christmas party during college days is a memory I still cherish. Partying at Tolly Club is all about nostalgia for me,” said Sil.
“I have a good bunch of friends here and I have travelled all over the world but Tolly Club is one of the best country clubs. Christmas has changed a lot but it is always about bonding,” said Jaidip Mukerjea, tennis pro, who is a regular at the club celebrations with wife Sharmin Mukerjea.
Style pick
With the usual December chill missing, smart comfy co-ords and short skirts were common trends spotted at the club. Sisters Rishieka and Deetyaa Ray chose their smart casuals from Zara. “Christmas means a lot of relaxation, a lot of family time and lots of music,” said Rishieka (right), a lawyer and Deetyaa, a student.
Pallavi Dakshini, a home- maker, thought of going sustainable this Christmas by choosing to pull out her old favourites from the wardrobe and mixed and matched her favourite bling with a comfy pair of parallel pants and glammed it up with a statement belt.
Sip & bite
With a slight nip in the air, dim sums, kebabs and cakes were hot sellers at the food counter that had an array of cuisines starting from Italian to classic Continental, Chinese and Oriental combos. Best picks at the tipple counter were whisky and beer.
Performances
Shayne Hyrapiet set the mood of the evening with retro English numbers and moved on to rock ’n’ roll and jazz. Tracks like You Are The One That I Want, Mamma Mia by ABBA, Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go kept the spirits high. “For starters, the club always likes old English numbers. I feel the pulse of the guests and slowly move into Bollywood to pump up the night,” said Shayne.
“I have played both for the 24th and 31st night at Tolly before. I love the warmth of the members here. They have a certain taste but they are open to all kinds of music. They like a lot of English retro and new-age Bollywood. I had a few tracks in mind but I saw the vibe of the crowd and took it forward accordingly. There were requests for rock ’n’ roll and jazzy Punjabi and Bollywood numbers, too,” said DJ Raman who made the members shake their legs to numbers like Part-time Lover, I want To Break Free and Besharam.
Moods and moments
While the t2ONLINE moving camera selfie corner was a crowd-puller on the ground, near the entrance, the bonfire was a warm chill spot for many. Age was no barrier on the dance floor that witnessed couples, parents with children and friends making the most of the night. This father-daughter waltzing around on the dance floor had our heart.