Ek Haath Packing: Diwali Gift Wrap Kitty Party Game Rules
Ek Haath Packing is a Diwali kitty party game where two ladies stand side by side, each keeps one hand behind her back, and together they wrap an empty box in newspaper, tape it and tie a ribbon bow in 2 minutes. The neatest wrapped box, chosen by a group vote, wins. The crazy twist: at the 1 minute mark the host shouts "Badlo!" and one lady from every pair moves to the next table, so she finishes someone else's half wrapped box with a brand new partner. It needs only empty boxes, old newspaper, tape and ribbon, and takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
Ek Haath Packing in pictures
What do you need to play Ek Haath Packing?
- One empty box per pair (a mithai box, shoe box or any carton)
- 2 sheets of old newspaper per pair
- Tape, cut into strips before the game and stuck on the table edge
- About 1 metre of ribbon or old saree lace per pair
- A phone timer
How to play Ek Haath Packing, step by step
- Make pairs. Both ladies stand side by side at a table and put their outer hand behind their back, so the pair has only two hands between them.
- Give every table an empty box, 2 sheets of newspaper, ready cut tape strips and a piece of ribbon. Keep scissors away; everything is cut beforehand.
- Start a 2 minute timer. Working together, each pair wraps the box in newspaper, tapes it shut and ties a ribbon bow on top.
- At 1 minute the host shouts "Badlo!" The lady on the right of every pair moves to the next table and keeps wrapping that box with her new partner.
- When time is up, everyone raises her hand and stops. The group votes for the neatest box, and the pair standing at it wins.
Rules: how do you win?
- The hand behind the back must stay there; if it comes out, the pair freezes for 10 seconds.
- If the newspaper tears and the box shows through, that box loses a point.
- A box without a bow cannot win the vote.
- Anyone who does not move on "Badlo!" puts her pair out of the round.
- The pair holding the neatest, tightest box with a proper bow at the end wins.
Fun twists to make it crazier
- The bow must be tied with the non writing hand only.
- Shout "Badlo!" twice, at 40 and 80 seconds, so most boxes pass through three pairs.
- Wrap a real Diwali gift or a box of mithai, and the winning pair takes it home.
- Give a funny "Ulta Award" to the messiest box and let the group name it.
Tips for the host
- Cut all the tape strips before guests arrive and stick them along the table edge.
- Use boxes of the same size so the vote is fair.
- Lay the newspaper flat on the table before you say start; it saves 20 seconds of chaos.
- Keep the wrapped boxes for the next kitty or for Diwali gifting.
Frequently asked questions
How many players do you need for Ek Haath Packing?
It works for 8 to 20 ladies playing in pairs. With 4 to 10 pairs you get enough tables for the "Badlo!" swap to feel chaotic.
What do you need to play the one hand gift wrapping game?
One empty box, 2 newspaper sheets, ready cut tape strips and about a metre of ribbon per pair, plus a phone timer. No scissors are needed during the game.
Is Ek Haath Packing a good Diwali kitty party game?
Yes. Gift packing is part of every Diwali, and doing it with one hand each and a partner swap halfway makes it a funny team game that needs no skill.
How does the "Badlo!" swap work?
At 1 minute the lady on the right of each pair moves one table along. The box stays where it is, so she finishes another pair's wrapping with a new partner.
How long does the game take?
Each round is 2 minutes, plus a minute for the vote. Three rounds with fresh boxes fit easily into 10 to 15 minutes.
After the game, play Housie
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