“Indian weddings and festivals”, that is the answer of any tourist in India, if asked, “What do you like in India”? And what they like in Indian marriages? He will simply answer “street dance by baratis (people in marriage procession)”. Now question arises “Why dance only and why not decoration, culture and recipes of Indian marriages?’
The most watched and awaited moment of Indian marriages is when marriage procession is taken to bride’s home. The funny moment begins right from here. The band singer who happens to be father of all musics begins with a hymn “data ek Ram bhikhari sari duniya” and will immediately switch over to “De depyar de, pyar de, pyar de re”, and here the entry of great Indian dancers begins. They know the art of Indian great classical dances, western and even ganganam styles. A ganganam style dancer accepted that ganganam is modified presentation of the dance by great drunken uncles of Indian marriages. These dancers are so much talented that even Hrithik Roshan and erstwhile dancing star Mithun will take retirement if any competition is held between them. Sometimes the band singer will abruptly discontinue and begins with “one, two, three-ye deshhai veer javanonka, albelonkamastanonka”. I wonder why a patriotic song is sung in all marriages; definitely it shows courage shown by a young lad to marry a lioness. As soon as the procession advances the evergreen song “aaj mere yaar ki shadi hai” will be the choice. Such uncles are usually not present at the beginning. These uncles are omnipresent after a certain period of marriage procession. But question arises where from they appear at once. Studies reveal that they gather at one place in a car somewhere roadside.
Namkeen, omelets, salad and of course the red colored cutwork glasses with one common word “cheers” makes the ground ready for the coming funny moment. And once they enter in procession every person greets them. Drunken uncles discover new dancing steps in every procession. Their leg movements with bhangara style hands and chewing lips makes picture perfect. Their irregularly dancing tummy makes atmosphere more funny. Some of them will dance vigorously and some in slow motion and of course some will bring aunties who are not drunken but will steal the show. The famous Shashi-Mumtaz song “Le jayenge le jayenge dilwale dulhaniya le jayenge” seems to be made for these uncles who easily outclass Shashi–mumtaz. With handkerchiefs in mouth and frog sitting posture looking towards aunties reminds us that they both are made for seven births.
The vehicles are stopped for these Michael Jacksons. Finally when the procession reaches bride’s door the only demand is “aaye ham baratibaratleke” with garlands in necks final stroke is played by this ubiquitous species with groom on their shoulders. Without these uncles one cannot imagine the Indian weddings and really they are integral part of it and have brought Indian weddings on tourist map.
