With Halloween round the corner, catch how Chennai is getting its freak on

Uncle Fester is on a rampage, Darth Vader has a candy pink brain popping out of his head and Lord Voldemort is sipping martini with an orange straw. And you, stop being a bore and take that brown paper bag off your head. It’s Halloween. Perhaps the only day you can walk around with bloody fangs in your mouth and bat wings sprouting from your shoulder.

Also known as All Saints’ Eve, this festival is celebrated across the world on October 31 to pay respect to the dead. In certain cultures, it marks the beginning of winter, post harvest. As Halloween draws closer, Chennaiites with a penchant for all things spooky and fun are gearing up to revel in this fast-becoming-popular event. It’s no longer just about Jack ‘O’ Lanterns or home-made cardboard masks and chart paper nails. Even in their creepiest avatar, extravagance is an essential factor for many. That explains the elaborate outfits and accessories. Given the craze, retailers are sure having a field day. International brands such as Accessorize have sequinned eye masks and hats, scar stickers, spider tattoos, tails, kitten and hobbit ears. Their tube of blood is what’s selling the most. It’s gooey red and once dabbed on, it makes you look freaky enough. Perfect if you want to be Carrie from the film of the same name.

Vampires, however are what’s topping the popularity charts this year. The number of rapidly selling fangs and capes available at Party Hunterz is proof of this. “Our Halloween collection came in 10 days ago and was sold out,” says owner Mignonne Thomas. The store stocks bizarre paraphernalia such as blood bandages, scary face make-up cream, devil masks, bat print lanterns, skull lights, glow in the dark nails, witches hats and broomsticks... She says the sales have gone up by 20 per cent this year with clubs and private house parties waking up to the trend. Also, it’s no more a celebration by just the expat communities or children running door to door trick or treating. It has snowballed into a massive reason to party.

Monster Monstrosity is what Winchester at Radisson Blu Hotel Chennai City Centre has planned for this year. Gargoyles, spider webs and tombstones await guests who are encouraged to arrive in their ‘deadly’ best. Push back killer brews like alien brain, hells special and flaming body while DJs Eric Paula and Sam Shroff belt out Techno music. Charlie Singh of Spoonbill, in between deciding his attire for the day, is busy with the last-minute preparations at his restaurant. “This is the third year we are organising a party. Even before we started planning it, our patrons kept reminding us about it,” he says. The menu has food with creepy names and designed to look the part. “Last year 98 per cent of our guests came dressed in costumes…and it’s not just the teenagers and youngsters, couples in their 50s too take their Halloween dressing very seriously,” he adds. Then there are those like Kanika and her group who don’t need to be at a party to dress outrageously. “Last year we went around town dressed frightfully. This time too we plan to go pub hopping in our Halloween gear,” she says and adds, “Earlier I would doubt if restaurants would allow us in if dressed this way. But now given the awareness people will know we are revellers and not just a bunch of crazy people.”

And for those reluctant to dress like creatures of the dark, Halloween doesn’t necessarily have to be all ghouls, zombies and bleeding faces. Among this year’s non-scary picks are Princess Elsa and Olaf the Snowman from Frozen, Black Widow (character from Marvel comic), Maleficent... And if the costumes are not available here, the over-enthusiastic order them online from international websites and don’t mind shelling out a fortune.

Six thousand rupees is what Avantika, a 24-year-old student spent on a corpse bride outfit. Another media professional spent four grand on his Despicable Me minion get up. “Onesies are a rage this year. Slip into one and you don’t really have to worry about anything else. Plus, they are so comfortable,” says make-up blogger Shrutilaya Ramanathan. “There are some who want to look glamorous as well as spooky and that’s why my personal favourite this time is the half-and- half look where you have half a face of normal make-up and the other side is either a skull or a zombie. All you need is some black eye shadow smeared on one side of the face.” Also a way to have the best of ‘both worlds’.