Bollywood meets Austin

In the past decade, Austin has emerged as one of the most preferred places to stay for most South-East Asians in Texas. As we all know, for most Asian communities, weddings are a grand grand affair; thus, ensuring a Bollywood aspect only seemed reasonable.

Why Bollywood?

The charm of Bollywood is not restricted to its elaborate song sequences and choreography. Over the years, Bollywood has managed to create a whole new vibe for weddings. The more glamorous the wedding is, the more sort after it is, almost like chasing a fairytale ending. From incorporating designer lehengas to  customised venues with lavish backdrops, Bollywood has helped to revamp the ‘shaadi’ business and take it to a whole new level.  Also, with a huge flock of Gujaratis, Marwadis, and Punjabis settled all across USA, Bollywood’s magnanimous arrival in cities like Austin, Chicago, Dallas, New York and San Francisco was only a matter of time.

Sangeet and Mehendi

In olden days, Sangeet (Musical gathering) used to be a meet-up of elderly ladies, singing and dancing to old folk songs about marriages and playing the dholak. This simple yet sweet way of celebration was designed for the women (of the family and neighbourhood) who seldom stepped out of their houses. In the 80’s and 90’s, Bollywood redefined the whole ritual of Sangeet and offered it a new look. Gradually, men of the family were part of this celebration, too. They equally participated in the singing and dancing activities, almost to the point of being competitive (in a jolly spirit 😉) In recent times, a good part of Sangeet consists of a duel between bridesmaids and groomsmen, dancing to peppy Bollywood numbers. Thus, hiring a professional wedding choreographer is a must-have checkbox for a bride’s/groom’s to-do list.

The mehendi ceremony continues to be mellow and intimate. The bride gets her hands decorated with Henna, while the bridesmaids sing and dance in circles to entertain the bride and lift her spirits. These days, thanks to Bollywood, sisters or friends of the bride prepare eloquent dance sequences for the event. The sweet part about Sangeet and Mehendi is nobody is expected to dance like professional artists. An experienced wedding choreographer is expected to teach moves as per one’s comfort level and ensure all are in sync while dancing.

Indo-American Fusion

A good chunk of Asians get married to American nationals in the USA. Thus, weddings are double the fun then what they are suppose to be for an in-community wedding. A dainty church ‘I do’ ceremony is followed by exchanging of garlands and circumambulation around the fire. The romantic first dance is forged with a pompous all-ensemble party dancing to Indian fusion songs. Most Asian communities enjoy this bit the most.

Re-branding it right

If one thing you can learn from Bollywood, is how to re-brand and enliven the already existing norms and turn it into something unique and spectacular. Be it the wedding dance or a thematic background set-up, one can surely learn a thing or two from Bollywood before organizing an Indian wedding in the USA.