Diwali is here! And it's festive season in Bollywood. The stars are gonna shine! At the biggest, glitziest, most rollicking parties in Tinsel Town. Like a Friday release, Salman Khan starts the festive season tonight at the party his sisters Arpita and Alvira are hosting! The excitement doesn't die down till after October 19th.

There’s nothing happening yet on 15^th and 16^th. The fever picks up on Tuesday the October 17^thwhen Tellyland Czarina Ekta Kapoor will have her Diwali party of pomp and show for the television and film industry. This is usually one shindig of grand attendance and has the stars turning out in traditional attire each year. Almost everybody goes to Ekta’s party but the paparazzi will be kept waiting for the arrival of her star bahu – the I&B Minister Smriti Irani!

There’s a big question mark hanging on Wednesday, October 18^th. Buzz is that Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna are throwing open the doors of their warm and cozy beach home with candles in Juhu to host one of the festival’s most elegant parties. But, alas, there is no confirmation coming from there. This stylish couple can make an outing for a late night show to the neighbourhood PVR seem like a party. Bollywood’s hopeful are waiting, fingers crossed. Also on the 18^th, Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar saab are planning their Diwali party at her father’s old home Janki Kuttir.

On 19^th, which is Laxmi Puja, it’s unofficially being said that the Bachchans who will be back from the Maldives on Sunday are going to keep an open house at Jalsa for old friends and close extended family members to stop by and share a few intimate moments with them. It won’t be a Diwali party, however. The family has cancelled all celebrations this year after Aishwarya lost her father Krishnaraj Rai in March. But with Mr. B taking off for a beach resort holiday to the Maldives on his 75^th birthday on October 11^th, there are many who didn’t get a chance to wish him. This will be the day to do so.

Also on the 19^th will be Sonam Kapoor’s Diwali party but the fashionista has discreetly let it be known that she’s not inviting Bollywood’s seniors to this bash. Only the young, and beautiful – naturally, will be welcome. Wonder where Papa Anil who crossed 60 will go! The 19^th promises to see all of Bollywood out on a Diwali party hop that night. Also flexing his Dangal bulk with a party of his own will be Aamir Khan but this time from nephew Imran Khan’s bungalow. The final invitations are yet to go out, however.

And, finally, on the 19^th , Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra will have their big casino party for Diwali at their Juhu residence. This is undeniably one of the most star studded parties of the season and everybody but everybody from tinsel town will make it a point to be there.