Sangeet ceremony as the name suggests is all about dance and music. It is one of the most enjoyable ceremonies before the wedding and used to be exclusively for women. Initially, the sangeet party was organized only by the bride’s family but with changing times it is now observed by the groom’s family as well. Also, it was a ritual which was only seen in North Indian weddings, but nowadays it is conducted in Bengali and South Indian marriages as well. The Sangeet, of all the wedding functions, is one such evening that is most awaited not only by the couples’ family but by everyone who’s invited. It’s the night of absolute fun where everybody joins in the joy surrounding the wedding celebrations through the simplest means of music, dance & entertainment!
But a lot goes into making this evening as special as it can be – hours of dance practices, coordination of steps, but most of all is the selection of great songs that is bound to entertain your guests. Even though trends in song selections and performances may have seen changes over the years, the basic idea of having a great time while organizing the dance show has stayed the same. Besides, with a number of great friends and family bopping to the fantastic desi beats at the Sangeet Night is bound to be an electrifying evening!
Below are a few tips & ideas for your Sangeet!
Top Tips:
- Determine your budget
Sangeet can be an expensive affair. In most communities at least 2 to 3 lakhs and upwards amount is spent on it.
- Choose the venue well
The venue for the Sangeet must be chosen keeping in mind the convenience of the friends and families of the bride and the groom. Make adequate arrangements for the appetizers, drinks and dinner.
- Keep it a day or two before the wedding
Since the participation of people from both the sides is required, the Sangeet Sandhya is ideally held a day or two before the nuptial.
- Decide the choreographer
Half the time the people who dance the best on either side take up the responsibility of planning the performances, the people and the songs. But nowadays professional choreographers are being hired for the purpose and who lend an expert touch to the overall ceremony.
- Decide the performers
Start planning for it at least a month in advance and make a list of all those who would be performing.
- Choose the songs aptly
Choose songs that suit the occasion are either very romantic or aimed at teasing the to-be-weds. Do not choose any such song that would not go down well with any of the persons present.
- Divide the time judiciously
Appropriate the performance time judiciously between the bride’s and the groom’s family. No one should feel disadvantaged against.
- Music system
The music system should be in good shape and the DJ must be booked at least 3 or 4 months in advance or else you may have to make do with your home theatre system.
- Sweet and short
However grand and entertaining an affair is, it must come to an end. The Sangeet should not be longer than an hour or 90 minutes at max. After that people will start getting bored.
Some Ideas that you can implement to make the Sangeet more exciting:
- The Skit : Letting an array of songs tell the story of how you met or how as a couple you both are meant to be, is an adorable way to stage a Sangeet performance. While some couples have their families join forces and perform together, that way getting them more acquainted; other couples have a two sided performance, therefore adding to the excitement as to which side performed better. Either way, everyone has fun, which is the main purpose of a Sangeet. And since it’s a Skit, the songs can range from any latest Bollywood to Classics or even International hits wherein the lyrics represent steps of your life. At times even witty snippets of commentary or impersonation are imbibed in between the songs to add to the entertainment and laughter!
- A Slideshow : Both pictures and music have the power to say what words can’t, so imagine how powerful a performance it will be if both these aspects are brought together. While the pictures slideshow can go on in the background, having a song-and-dance representing every picture can be staged. This is not only an innovative idea; it also gets your guests engaged in the performance.
- A Desi Themed Song & Dance : It so can happen that the bride and groom can be from culturally different backdrops – to that there would be nothing better than using it as an opportunity for a ‘Desi Themed Song-&-Dance’ in which the song selections could be a fusion of beats from both cultures. Where, for example, with a folk-like Punjabi song like ‘Baari-Barsi’ or ‘Gur Nalo Ishq Mitha’ there can be a Guajarati Garba dance. This blending represents the union of two families creative way of celebration!
- The Bollywood Dance Songs : Wherever there is an Indian wedding, Bollywood song-and-dance is added to it automatically! Any why shouldn’t it? After all Bollywood Music and Dances does have the most exhilarating beats that can get anyone on their feet and grooving to the rhythm.
- An Act or Professional Performance : There are multiple options available from laser shows to fire dancers. If you want to add something even more special to the night you can choose from the many options available by professional performers.
If you have any ideas that you would like to share do send it in the comments below.
Content Source: http://marrymeweddings.in http://www.culturalindia.net
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