When it comes to the wedding platter, apart from delicacies from different parts of the world, there is always an attempt to add the local flavour. Our conventional flowers are back in trend,” he beams. “Lots of people have taken fancy to lotus, marigold and jasmine these days. But shehnaiwallas are something they want right at the entrance because of the auspiciousness attached to it - the belief that the sound of the shehnai invokes the divine! “In music, many prefer live bands and those with big budgets go for celebrity artistes.

Nitin Vij of Espousal Planners says customary designs are popular with many of their clients requesting for a traditional set-up. Folk dancers and singers are also in demand for mehendi and sangeet events, quips Vimal. These days lots of people call for shehnaiwallas, flute players, santoor and tabla vadaks. Floral elephants, peacocks and Ganesha at the entrance are also in demand. Some clients specifically request for earthen diyas, lanterns and phulkari chaddars to add the desired desi touch. But for the D-Day, the even most modern prefer lehengas, salwaar kameez and saris in ethnically done up interiors, adds his partner Rohit Saini. “We are receiving requests for decor that embody tradition yet manage to be diverse and contemporary in style,” says Vimal Roy Bhola of Rudra Events & Wedding Planners.įor the ring ceremony, cocktail and sangeet, the contemporary style is at times the choice in both décor and dresses, with the bride, groom and guests going bold in their picks of gowns and western wear. But there are many who are still taking the traditional route on their special day-be it decor, food, trousseau or music.

Today, choreographers and DJs make the guests sway to Banno tera swagger, Ladki beautiful kar gayi chull and London thumakda in pre-rehearsed moves.

Women in their traditional best singing Kala doria kunde naal adya ee oye to the beat of dholkis, girls dancing to self-choreographed Nai jana meri maayein, shehnai vadaks dishing out soft melodies at the entrance, boliyan, tappe, ghorian, sammi, kikli … for Gen Y these are oh so 60s stuff, but for elders-sort of déjà vu!

Kala dooria kunday nal