Birthdays Become Battlegrounds for Competitive Parents in 2025

As of October 2025, birthday celebrations have undergone a dramatic transformation. What were once simple affairs with samosas, chips, and a few balloons have now become lavish events costing lakhs of rupees. Parents are increasingly using their child's birthday as a way to showcase their wealth, originality, and social status.

The scale of these birthday bashes has created new business opportunities for budding entrepreneurs. Specialized return gift providers now track the latest trends and create customized options, from bags and water bottles to stationery sets and art boxes, to cater to the growing demand. Event planners, too, have diversified their offerings, organizing theme-based parties ranging from "Little Scientist" to "Frozen" and even "football-themed" celebrations.

The pressure to outdo one another has led some parents to go to great lengths. One parent recalls a birthday party in a farmhouse with a circus theme, complete with games, shows, and rides. Another parent mentions a party where each child was gifted a set of branded wireless headphones, costing more than the gifts most guests brought for the birthday boy.

While some families still prefer to keep birthday celebrations simple, the peer pressure faced by children in school has led to an escalation in the scale and grandeur of these events. As the competition continues to intensify, the birthday party has become a battleground for parents to assert their social standing and showcase their unique planning abilities.