Revisiting the Indian Wedding Songs

One can never imagine an Indian wedding taking place without song and dance Indian weddings are characterized by their bustle, vibrancy, and effervescence.  Other than the traditional folk songs and traditional music, contemporary weddings are increasingly witnessing the advent of Indian pop music and dhol beats. Even as the latest Bollywood songs liven up the events, the charm of the older tunes remains intact. The traditional wedding songs are an integral part of Indian weddings and have been carrying on since decades. The following article discusses about Indian wedding songs in detail.

The Conventional Music

When it comes to Indian wedding functions, music is one of the most significant elements that demand attention and detailed planning. Weddings are a good reason for reunion between family and friends and involve loads of fun and frolic accompanied by singing and dancing. A bad taste in music can get you many frowns in reaction. One must sensibly compile a list of good wedding songs. Select the list with utmost care, keeping the age and interests of the guests in mind. Ensure that the melodies are lively enough to catch their attention and peppy enough to compel them to shake a leg. It always helps when the listeners are already familiar with the songs you are playing as they can relate better. And who doesn’t know the classic wedding songs? Try playing these and all aunts and sister-in-laws will join in to celebrate. Here are some suggestions of popular traditional songs that are time and again played during weddings –

Joote Dedo Paise Lo – The song is as much fun as the actual custom! In Indian weddings, the groom removes his shoes to proceed for the phera ceremony. The phera(s) take place in the mandap and meanwhile the sisters of the bride steal the shoes. After the ceremony is over, the groom demands back his pair of shoes while his sister-in-laws negotiate a price for it. The song 'Joote Dedo Paise Lelo' is a classic when related with this context.

Le Jayenge Le Jayenge – The actual wedding ceremony is preceded by various functions like roka, engagement, sangeet, etc. The records played during these functions have a mischievous tone. The younger relatives and friends of the groom tease the bride’s side by reminding them that their beloved girl will be swept off her feet by their boy. It is symbolic of the tradition where the girl has to leave her maiden house to go on and live with her husband.

Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna – Several ceremonies are conducted before the actual wedding. One of these ceremonies is the mehndi. In this function, henna designs are applied on the bride’s hands and feet. That is accompanied by singing and dancing on various Bollywood songs. The perfect song for this event is 'Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna', where the bride is being told to apply henna and wait for the love of her life. In Indian customs, once mehndi is put on the bride’s hand, it implies that the marriage celebrations have started. 

Babul Ki Duaayein Leti Ja – People say that daughters share a special bond with their fathers and are close as they are pampered and loved unconditionally by them. When a daughter gets married, the father has to bid farewell to her, which is the most difficult moment of his life. The girl, too, is upset about leaving her father and going to another home. The entire atmosphere gets intense as the close relatives and family shed a tear while sending off their doting daughter. The song ‘Babul Ki Duaayein Leti Ja' expresses a father’s feelings on this occasion.

Author bio: Devika Arora is a prolific writer who compiles relevant facts and analyzes current state of affairs pertaining to varied domains, such as employment, education, real estate and matrimony in the Indian context. She is currently writing informative articles, news stories and blog posts on behalf of Jeevansathi.com.