The Sangeet

Next on the list of time sensitive lock-downs was the venue for the Sangeet.

Saurab and I have always known that we wanted to do a Sangeet, however, neither of us knew the traditional definition of the sangeet. So, I looked it up....here is what iloveindia.com has to say...
The sangeet ceremony is also known as ‘gaun’. This custom heightens the excitement of wedding festivities. In the earlier days the custom of gaun used to last for ten days but with the passage of time, it has reduced to a one night function. At the bride's home women relatives and friends play the dholki and sing suhaag, which is a traditional folk song. Songs include 'jokes' about the in-laws, and would be husband how to have a successful marriage like and songs about the bride leaving her parents home. Similarly the women at the groom's home sing songs called ghoriya.

Traditionally, the sangeet parties we done seperately, in the boys and girls homes. But now, it is a joint affair before the marriage ceremony, and is a platform developing familiarity of the bride and groom with each others family.

Though sangeet function is an important pre-wedding function of all north Indian weddings, it is most popular trend among Gujaratis and Punjabis. Among the Gujaratis Garba dance is a favored alternative.

SO, there we have it. We have to do a Sangeet, and it will have to be somewhat traditional! For us, it will be the night before the wedding - Friday, July 23rd (venue yet to be decided). We will have a few of the traditional things:
1. A full garba to honor my Gujarati side
2. Mendhi so that people who want to get henna done on thier hands can do so
3. Song and dance
4. A full guest list so that both sides of the wedding invitees can meet each other

However, we are also going to make it our own by...
1. Turning the song and dance segment into an "evening of the arts" where people can showcase their unique talents, be it song, dance, film, or anything else.
2. We'll have a dinner ,but it will be a casual fun fair event. So, we have decided to set up Bombay style "chat" stations....pani puri, bhel, dhosa, chat puri, and all sorts of yummy goodness.

It's going to be LOADS of fun and tee things up nicely for the next day. Now, we just need to find a venue that will hold 250 to 300 people!