Among all the pre wedding celebrations sangeet party
is the most enjoying one. It is mostly celebrated as a ladies sangeet
party where female relatives and friends of the bride's family meets to
celebrate the occasion. They sing and dance all through the night to
celebrate the wedding ceremony. In most of the families, the sangeet
party is celebrated on an elaborate scale it is a much larger affair.
The sangeet party is celebrated both as a separate and joint event in
both the families. Mostly people prefer to celebrate separately. The
bride's family beautifully decorates the house for the occasion. This
gives an opportunity to sing songs, eat, drink and dance the night away.
Sangeet party is very popular among Gujaratis and Punjabis. Among the
Gujaratis Garba dance is a favored alternative. They are mostly held in
a big hall, which are beautifully decorated where people come dressed in
ethnic Gujarati wear. The sangeet party mainly involves traditional
dance, which is known as Garba, and dandia raas, which is dancing with
sticks. The Raas Garba usually ends with a light supper for all those
attending.
The ladies sangeet also known, as gaun is a popular custom that further
heightens wedding festivities. In the earlier days the custom of gaun
used to last for ten days but with the passage of time, as people didn't
have more time to spend due to demanding work schedules, today the
custom is usually set for one pre-set date. Although synonymous with the
Bridal Shower it is equally celebrated at the groom's house. 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 only the
women celebrated this ceremony but nowadays the concept has changed as
both men and women participate to celebrate this occasion. The bride and
groom's family now mostly celebrates it at a common place like a lavish
banquet hall or a hotel ballroom.
