Nowadays people started to conduct potluck parties with themed lunch and dinners for special occasions and festivals. Guests may bring in any form of food, ranging from the main course to desserts. In some cases each participant agrees ahead of time to bring a single course, and the result is a multi-course meal. The only traditional rule for potluck is that each dish should be large enough in quantity that has to be shared among a good portion with the guests. Potluck lunch or potluck dinner is the most common one. In India, it is also known as kitty party.
Other names for a 'potluck' include: potluck dinner, potluck lunch, spread, Jacob's join, Jacob's supper, faith supper, covered-dish-supper, dish party, bring-and-share, shared lunch, pitch-in, bring-a-plate, dish-to-pass, fuddle, and carry-in. Smaller, more informal get-together with distributed food preparation may also be called potlucks. In simple words, a potluck party is a meal or party to which each of the guests brings or contributes their own food to share.
