‘Big loss for Telugu cinema’: Jaya Prakash Reddy passes away; Andhra CM, actor Sudheer Babu pay tribute

While it may not be possible for you to shake hands with your bud or hug them this Friendship Day, you can always give them virtual hugs by getting on a video call.

Zoom calls may have taken the centre stage for WFH-related purposes, but you can always turn them around and have a virtual party with friends.

You can also get some snacks, play dance music on Gaana app and groove to the beats. While it might not feel the same as a house party, with friends around, the bubbly drinks and conversations flowing, you will definitely have a memorable experience.

Not just Zoom, you can also use WhatsApp video calling, Skype, the newly-launched JioMeet and the classic Google Chat app to connect with friends.

If having a party is not your cup of tea, you can always have a gala time with friends by playing games with them, virtually. There are several fun gaming apps that will allow you and your circle to challenge each other and compete in fun games.

If you happen to be a Ludo fanatic, you can play multiplayer Ludo with Ludo King. MPL (Mobile Premier League) is another app that will keep you and your friends hooked for hours as you play, win exciting prizes and rewards.

Then there’s the classic ‘Houseparty’ app which generated a lot of buzz worldwide during the lockdown. A face-to-face social networking app, ‘Houseparty’ allows you to video call your friends and play fun trivia games with them.

‘Psych’ - from the creators of the game ‘Heads Up!’ is another fun app, which has multiple modes that friends can play with.

Having friends over and binge-watching your favourite shows together might not be the best idea given the social-distancing norms that have been put in place. However, thanks to technology, you can now binge-watch shows with groups, even if you are not with them, physically.

With Netflix Party, a Google Chrome browser extension created specially to allow friends to watch movies together, you can do just that. With this, you and the gang can live chat and comment throughout the screening, creating a fun new way to continue watching your favourite movies together.

This will allow you to watch your favourite films together without going to a theatre and staying in the safety of your home.

With restaurants allowing takeaways and home-delivery, you can surprise your friends by ordering food for them. Food-delivery apps like Zomato, Swiggy and FoodPanda are now taking all possible precautions to maintain hygiene and keep your food safe.

If your friends love pizza, you can place an order for them on the Domino’s or Pizza Hut Delivery app. No matter what their favourite cuisine is - be it Thai, Mughlai or Continental - you can order from the above apps and help them satiate their food cravings.

Best Friendship Day gift? You bet!

E-commerce websites such as Amazon, Flipkart and Snapdeal have resumed their delivery in almost all zones, which means that you can now order gifts by entering their delivery address.

You can treat your special ones with a heartfelt or a funny gift. Amazon, which has one of the largest inventories across categories, is one of the best places to find everything from make-up to gadgets, books, and home décor. Not only will your friends love the thought put into their gift, but it’s also a great way to show them how much you care.

If you aren’t good at picking gifts, you can always send a book to your friend via Amazon. As they say, there’s nothing quite like gifting someone the joy of reading.