Band Baaja Baraat

Even donkeys would probably be more in tune as compared to the crooner who belch out Hindi film songs on which the spirited baraatis hysterically gyrate in complete defiance of laws of motion. Such actions should in normal course invite equally violent response from the onlookers, but that it doesn't, speaks volumes about the tolerance level of people by and large and that laws of motion aren't sacrosanct after all.  Those of us subjected to this inhuman torture during the wedding season on all the auspicious days, rue the day we were born or may be actually the day the groom was born. 

Baraat or a wedding procession holds a very special place in Indian weddings. The groom's side leaves no stone unturned to display the pomp and splendour to impress the bride's side. Male Birds are known to demonstrate their amorous intent to the female of the species by indulging in interesting dance moves in kaleidoscopic colours as mating dances. May be our baraats also originated with a similar intent, except that the colours are garish and dance, well when someone said, one should dance as though no one is watching, they did not even consider that people would take them so seriously and actually go on to do just that. Just one minor amendment that their eyes are always seeking approval of the baraatis for their Prabhu Deva moves. Actually this Deva of Dance is also responsible for germinating this idea in people's minds with his movie, " Anybody can dance". So we have the Nagin dancers who would put the female of the serpent family to shame by their swaying to the snake charmer  buddy with handkerchief in his mouth,  the break dancers whose moves would have definitely sent Michael Jackson hiding for cover.  

There was a time when these processions were kept simple, just a small band with the groom on the horse. The band in attendance were dressed up in zari uniforms and the ensemble of instruments included trumpets,  drums, tambourines cymbals and sousaphones,  these had gigantic horns at the other end of the tube and I am quite sure none of the bandsmen who carried this heavy looking instrument actually knew how and when to play it. They would just blow into it at random intervals irrespective of the beats or the tune. Their cacophony went way beyond the octaves, the jarring output resembled a person gargling rather than any musical note. The procession was well lit with ladies and kids carrying petromax lamps on their heads and was led by the band master with the shehnai. All the other things have given way with DJs ruling the roost, but two-three songs have survived this onslaught, the baraatis dancing on "Ghodi pe ho ke sawar chala hai mera yaar....", "yeh desh hai veer jawano ka ", yes it is a brave act after all to venture into marriage in this day and age, and finally on arrival at the door step of the bride's place or the wedding venue, "baharon phool barsao mera mehboob aya hai..."

Then liberalization happened, there was a lot more spare cash with the abundance of black money, naturally weddings became ostentatious. So a nation brought up the potpourri of Hindi movies and cricket, immediately lapped it up. Marriage ceremonies were always an occasion for joy and gaiety, so the big fat Punjabi wedding popularized by Yash Chopra and Karan Johar were adopted as dream come true for all weddings.  In fact wedding seasons were like a shot in the arm for the otherwise dull economic activities. Service sector benefitted, hospitality was on an overdrive meeting the demands, the bride and the groom and their near and dear ones got the opportunity to act their celluloid dreams, and dance to their heart's content. But this Band Baaja Baraat take their toll on the oldies and some sane people who prefer to hit the sack early. High time noise pollution resulting from these Bands be checked lest we turn stone deaf.