Indian wedding ceremony music

It's interesting:
"I think you'll all agree that it's been a wonderful wedding so far. ... But I never received a formal invitation to the wedding, so I just hope I haven't eaten a meal ..."

Music plays a key role in Indian wedding ceremonies. In Hindu ritual and custom, music always plays an integral part. Each region of India has its own set of wedding songs that are part of the local tradition. Then there's a whole other set of Bollywood hits that modern couples often like to integrate into their ceremonies, in addition to the traditional regional favorites.

1. Ten Popular Indian Wedding Songs

   • The ILoveIndia.com website has a section on Indian weddings, and offers a lengthy list of popular Indian wedding ceremony songs. Among them are these 10 favorites, all from popular Bollywood movies. The names of the films follow the songs, in parentheses.

     Chote Chote Bhayon (Hum Saath Saath Hain)
     

     Cham se wo aajaye (Dus)
     

     Ek pardesi mera dil le gaya (Sophie)
     

     Aaj hai sagai (Pyar To Hona Hi Tha)
     

     Maahi ve (Kal Ho Na Ho)
     

     Banno ki saheli (Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gum)
     

     Kala sha kala (Anamika)
     

     Hulle hullare (Rageshwari)
     

     Maa da ladla (Dostana)
     

     Bhootni Ke (Singh is King)

     For more song choices, check out the ILoveIndia.com website or, for even more Indian wedding ceremony music listings, visit WedAlert (find a link in the Resources section.)

   Hiring the Right Deejay

   • Inevitably, you're going to want to hire a deejay who is familiar with Indian wedding ceremony music--someone who can meet with the groom, bride and family members and put together a set list tailored to their wants and needs. Some Indian families prefer more traditional music from their home region- others want splashy, popular Bollywood numbers. More often than not they want a mix. In any event, finding the right deejay is key. The IndianWeddingSite.com (find a link in the References section) has a list of criteria for choosing a deejay. Chief among them: "You are hiring a professional deejay because of his expertise in music. Test him! Ask him to tell you on the spot what the top Hindi/Bhangra songs are for a wedding. A confident and experienced deejay will tell you in a heartbeat."

   Mehendi Music

   • Indian weddings have lots functions and parties that precede the actual wedding ceremony. The most important is the "Mehendi" (also spelled "Mehandi" or "Mehndi"), in which intricate henna designs are made on the hands and feet of the bride, accompanied by plenty of singing and dancing. It is, after all, a foot-tapping "ladies only" party. A popular mehendi song is "Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna," from the movie "Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge."

   Sangeet Songs

   • Another important pre-wedding function is "Sangeet," an evening of musical entertainment hosted by the bride's family. It's typically held just before Mehendi. Participants sing folk songs dedicated to marriage and the bride, accompanied by Dholak and spoon. Afterward the unmarried girls dance to various popular songs, such as "O Rabba Koi," "Jo Geet Nahi," "Saat Suron Ke" and "Main Tumhari."

   Other Pre-Wedding Music

   • Other pre-wedding functions include roka, engagement, tilak/sagan and chunni. The atmosphere is light and frivolous, and songs with a naughty ring to them are ideal. Try "Le Jayenge, Le Jayenge'," from the movie "Chor Machaye Shor," or "Mujhse Shaadi Karogi," from the movie "Mujhse Shaadi Karogi." The latter is a sweet, saucy little number, sung by Udit Narayan & Sonu Nigam, about a determined guy asking a girl to marry him and promising her all the happiness in the world.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: wedding ceremony, Indian wedding, Indian wedding ceremony, ceremony music, wedding ceremony music