Gen Z’s latest party trend in India

What comes to mind when you think about a large, fat Indian wedding?

Dazzle lights, sparkling clothes, Bollywood strikes, luxurious food spread and mired atmosphere in the celebration. Everything looks exorbitant, emotional and greater than life.

Now imagine all of this without the bride and groom. There is no Ferras (Hindu marriage rituals where the couple takes seven rounds of a sacred fire), nor relatives, nor farewell to tears. Only the party.

Welcome to the world of fake wedding parties – an escalating trend in Indian cities where people meet to enjoy the wedding, incredible marriage.

These classified events, organized by hotels, clubs and companies, are designed for fun and promised to provide the full experience of the wedding without any pressure, rituals or responsibilities. Simply, it’s a wedding night.

Over the past few weeks, fake weddings have been making a splash in big cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bangaluru. The attendees are usually young as looking to enjoy a night with friends, indulging in the drama and fun for a traditional Indian wedding without accompanying pressure.

Last week, we attended an event in Delhi – Sanget is fake (Sanget is a night of music and dance, it is usually held a few days before the wedding).

In this event, which was held in Agha Club, it was electric VIBE: Women revolve in Saris and Layingas (long skirts and blouses), and men appeared in Kurtas specially designed and ethnic jackets. The traditional drama player DHOL led the crowd to the dance circuit and the tick -filled Gappas (a famous snack in the Indian street) made tours.

Shevanji Sarin, who attended such an event for the first time, found “amazing”.

“In family wedding parties, there is a lot of pressure – the rules related to clothes, and the ruling [from relatives]. But here, it’s just a pleasant, especially because we should do everything with our friends. We decided our clothes the day before and prepare us together. “

Ticket prices usually start in about 1500 rupees ($ 17; 13 pounds) and can reach 15,000 rupees or more, depending on the place and facilities. Shevanji and her friends paid 10,000 rupees for each couple to attend.

“I don’t mind spending this once a month. The entire experience was completely worth it.”

Sharad Madan, a restaurant owner who hosted the event, says the trend confirms that the grandmother is the key in the hospitality sector.

“We have to continue doing something new to our beneficiaries,” he said.

Madan says that it cost them about one million rupees to plan and organize the event, and the team expects that it will do this through ticket sales. But it is not only about profits, he says.

“It is about engaging. Even if it does not give me the same type of returns, I still do it because our pastors want something different.”

Kaushal Chani, co -founder of 8club, said events that hosted a fake wedding attended by 2000 people in Bangaluru last month that inspiration for fake wedding parties came from the young Indians living abroad.

“People from the diaspora will meet and dance to Bollywood music, wearing ethnic clothes [traditional] He said: “This is the idea that we also followed.”

The response to the Bangaluru event, which was held at a five -star hotel, was “overwhelming”. He encouraged them to plan a similar event in Delhi – who was sold – and they began to get inquiries from events organizers in other cities such as Jaipur, Kulkata and LuckNow.

“We are now providing our standard operating procedures (SOP) for interested people,” he says. “It is evidence of how to create, market it and make it profitable.”

However, not all fake wedding parties follow the same text program.

Third place, an experienced start -up company, recently hosted a sober Sangit In Bangaluru – not alcohol, just a celebration under the title.

“We have divided the attendees into the groom’s teams and the bride, and I look for games such as homes and guess who is close to a stereotype,” said CEO Anurag Pandness.

There were DHOL drums, great welcome to all guests and even games of astrology. Alcohol was intentionally left.

“Sometimes alcohol comes out of experience,” said Mr. Pandnesse. “We wanted to do more than just a bar or a regular acquisition. We wanted to show the spirit of Indian weddings.”

Commentators say that the popularity of these events reflects the increasing desire of young people to find reasons to celebrate.

“People need some kind of hook … suitable for celebration. There is no better preparation than a wedding, which combines all elements of fun,” says the author and social commentator Santosh Disai.

“It is the height of enjoyment – especially when it is free of stress that accompanies real wedding parties.”

It also indicates that these events give people a reason to wear expensive wedding clothes that have been purchased in the past.

So, are such events here to stay?

The Delhi -based events, the Delhi -based Events TouchWood founder, believes that fake weddings are currently an innovation – but they have the same capabilities.

“Gen Z definitely wants to be part of such celebrations,” he said.

“If a new market appears, it can be a major change in games because the scale will increase – which ultimately weakens job opportunities for the entire industry.”

The wedding industry in India Its value is estimated at about 130 billion dollarsAccording to the Consulting Consulting Company for Investment.

While the sector flourishes, there are restrictions. Most weddings take place during the cooler months – usually between November and March – the seasonal wind season (from June to August) is often in its season.

With free places, available sellers and people who are constantly chasing experiences, fake weddings can enter the gap if the direction continues.

Mr. Aroura says he was surprised by the appearance of fake wedding parties.

“But this also helps in understanding that such events are something that we want to celebrate or be part of it. Even if we cannot attend the real events of our friends or family host, we still want to try them by joining these fake situations.”

However, not every guest goes with great happiness.

Sri Sichti Sharma, a 23 -year -old marketing specialist, said she felt frustrated from the only fake wedding she attended.

“I lived away from home for a few years so far and I really lost a wedding,” she said.

“The biggest plus was not the presence of annoying relatives telling you” You are the next queue for marriage. “

Mrs. Sharma and her friends spent hours selecting clothes, but the event was shortened.

“They started with EDM and switching to Bollywood only after two hours,” she said.

“We expected the wedding food but we got pizza and fried potatoes – not candy, just alcohol. The decor was essential and felt lazy.”

Some have criticized the events, saying that they could coincide with traditional Indian events and values.

But Fedy Kapoor, who attended Sanjett in Delhi, does not agree.

She said: “Perhaps it would have been offensive if people were asked to wear clothes like the bride or the groom, but here is just a party, we must take it in high spirits.”

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