“Mehfil -E-Khaas” Ulf “Mehfil – E- Sama” – Nidhi & Sagar

 Nidhi & Sagar’s Sangeet night was set at the IVY Restaurant Banquets, Chembur, Mumbai – India.  The theme for the evening was Qawwali. Qawwali is a Sufi musical tradition that stretches back for more than 700 years. The roots of Qawwali can be traced back to 8th century Persia (today’s Iran and Afghanistan). Ghazal was the chosen mode of delivery for Qawwali night.

As we entered the hall, the first thing that caught our eyes was the Mehendi counter where Mehndi artists were at work bringing some beautiful art to life. Before the Qawwali session began, the evening was kicked off with some dance performances from family and friends. The first piece was performed by 9 sisters of the bride on a hit Bollywood number from the movie “Khai Po Che” and stirred up the crowd and other family members also joined in the fun and the next performance was done by the Uncles & Aunties of the bride followed by 2 very adorable kids doing the Lungi Dance which set the pace for the next act from the brides friends and cousins who danced to the tune of Dhol Baje & Drama Queen.

The kids were chosen as the best dancers and were given gifts for the entertainment displayed.

The groom entered a bit later and everyone got their Qawwali gear on, the topi & the legendary scarves. This set the Mehfil-E-Khaas into motion and professional qawwals took centre stage who started off with a song that offered praise to the almighty. Post which some real classics were performed. Professional Qawwals like Sunil Menon took the Mehfil to the next level and delighted the audience with some sublime songs.

The Qawali night was an inclusive one which involved the audience into the act and there were Qawwali competition between the bride’s side and the groom’s side along with some amazing jugalbandis. The family and friends at the event participated and enjoyed its every moment.

 

If you are planning to have your own Qawwali Night for your Sangeet, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Get an experienced Orchestra & some really good Qawwals

2. Seating arrangement in front of the stage with a Gaddhi (Thin mattress)

3. Costume: Get the attire right, men should have a Kurtha on (A short Kurtha to go with it) and the women can sport an Anarkali suit or a bold colorful saree.

4. Do not forget the legendary accessories that are must-haves to go with the attire. The Qawwali topi & scarf. The Topi needs to be colorful. The scarves can be tied on the hands or/and tied on the neck like a bow-tie.

 

If we missed out any essentials, feel free to add on to the list in the comment section below. #Sangeettips

Jay & Nehali’s Sangeet! (“Shah Parivar Awards”)

The theme for Jay & Nehali’s sangeet was “The Shah Parivar Awards”. The decor and the sets resembled the ones seen at Bollywood award nights. The event took place at “The Leela”, Mumbai. A wonderful celebration with family and friends contributing in their own special way.

Shivangi & Kunal – The Sangeet Tale!

Mark Twain once said

“To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with.”

The Sangeet + Haldi + Ring exchange ceremony of Kunal & Shivangi was a joyful occasion cherished by both the families and their loved ones. There was fun & fervor in the air.

The event had guests less in number, but with the enthusiasm they brought with them made the event amazing  to watch and to be a part of.

The event started off with the DJ spinning in some desi tracks in an effort to stir the mood and to get everyone into a celebratory mood. Once the invitees started to shake their tailfeathers, the stage was set for a beautiful day to follow.

The couple’s aunts and cousins had an extempore skit prepared for the event that took form in a very short time. The skit had an effective blend of songs, dance and story. The act in a gist was about the story of Kunal’s childhood and his journey over the years and how the groom and bride met and they decided to tie the knot.

There were dance performance by the couple’s cousins and relatives. The one that was fun to watch was Kunal’s uncle’s “Unde Ka Funda” performance that earned laughs & accolades alike.

Kunal (Groom) also let his footloose on songs of his favourite star while growing up, the legendary disco dancer “ Mithun Da” , sporting Mithun’s classic moves.

Shivangi (Bride) also let her hair down and danced to the Bollywood numbers that were played and was also multitasking with the wet mehndi on her hand. The expression at offer was of pure joy and happiness. She was accompanied by Kunal’s mother (Groom’s Mother) and the joy multiplied.

The groom’s and the bride’s fathers also sang a couple of songs and were relished by the people present and added their special touch to the wedding. Shivangi’s father also moved to some popular tracks and sported a Jodi performance with Shivangi. Kunal’s parents also performed a jugalbandi, wherein the groom’s mother complimented his father’s voice with beautiful moves, a spectacle, nonetheless.

To sum up this beautiful celebration, the one thing in abundance was joy and happiness which was a result of the communion of the two beautiful souls. It was a great experience covering the event and our heartfelt wishes for a brighter future to the wonderful couple.

Let there be love – Let there be light!

Tips & Ideas for Sangeet!

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