<p>Doli Sajake Rakhna, Chehra Chhupake Rakhna…is an evergreen Bollywood hit song. Not only the song, but the ritual which it describes — namely the doli or palanquin in which the bride leaves for her new home after bidding goodbye to her maternal family — has become one of the most popular and custom-made events in modern Indian weddings.<br /><br />Indeed, the Indian theme for weddings, with their glamour and drama, has become such a craze all over the world that deluxe hotels in countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Macau and Mauritius as well as Western countries with large Indian communities are bidding to organise ‘Indian weddings’ with an increasing amount of fanfare and management skills. </p>.<p>Weddings have become a theatrical performance, where ‘presentations’ involving the bride and groom and their families are performed — be it the arrival of the groom’s baraat to the venue, the nuptial rituals, or the bride’s bidaai in a doli. Irrespective of the regional affiliation of the two families, these ‘filmi’ services include a procession of programmes like mehendi, sangeet, choreographed dances, games and many festive dinners around the wedding date. Luxury cars only take the groom till the last lap. He then switches over to a horse for the last lap, and the bride leaves in a heavily-decorated palki or doli, reminiscent of an older era.<br /><br />In recent years, the traditional doli — in its modern avatar — has become the latest craze in Indian weddings the world over. So much that it has even guest appearances on fashion shows. “This could be the direct impact of glamorous Bollywood weddings,” says Shaila Jain, a wedding planner/designer, “Indian pizzazz and glamour are in vogue in all countries. Celebrities of all nationalities come to India to get married. They soak in the Indian extravagance at palaces and resorts.</p>.<p> Even if they choose to marry abroad, they can consult many international Indian wedding planners who offer services — from organising the baraat and wedding rituals to designing the doli. The impressive list of such planners on the Internet leaves us astounded, to say the least. For instance, the silver filigree doli for Aishwarya Rai’s bidaai was designed from an heirloom piece. It took more than 22 days to make the structure, after the design was finalised by the Rai family. With its metallic handles covered with golden wires, the doli looked absolutely stunning, and of course, Ash made the most beautiful bride. Shilpa Shetty’s doli was bedecked with flowers. Some designers use fabric and gold work to embellish dolis. The rest simply followed suit. And the brides enjoy this memorable experience more than ever!”<br /><br />For most families, the events and rituals of a wedding are a status symbol. The wedding industry appears to be recession-proof with the wealthy pushing the envelope with ever wedding they fund. The Indian wedding industry has made headlines as families try to outdo each other in international locations like Nepal, Dubai, Thailand, Macau and even European countries. The baraat, wedding plus reception, and the doli are the highlights of all marriages.<br /><br />A brief glimpse into the history of the doli is interesting. Loosely translated as a palanquin in English, the word entered the English dictionary when the British colonised Bengal — where it was the custom for royal ladies to travel in palkis because they were not allowed to be seen outside of their homes. British women of that era in India also used the palki as a way of showing off their status in society. The doli soon became a symbol of richness.<br /> <br />Shaila Jain continues, “In affluent India, wedding designers wish to offer brides this ‘once-in-a-lifetime royal experience’ by planning their departure from the wedding venue in spectacularly dolis which are carried by men in decorated uniforms, to give an added touch of luxury. Today, the doli is available in various designs with fabric, metals, Sankheda-type Gujarati painted wood, floral swings or jhoolas, Mughal-style dolis inspired by the film Jodha Akbar, or Shahi dolis copied from Shekhawati or Rajput paintings. Whatever the design of the doli, it surely makes bidaai the grand finale, every bride deserves.</p>
<p>Doli Sajake Rakhna, Chehra Chhupake Rakhna…is an evergreen Bollywood hit song. Not only the song, but the ritual which it describes — namely the doli or palanquin in which the bride leaves for her new home after bidding goodbye to her maternal family — has become one of the most popular and custom-made events in modern Indian weddings.<br /><br />Indeed, the Indian theme for weddings, with their glamour and drama, has become such a craze all over the world that deluxe hotels in countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Macau and Mauritius as well as Western countries with large Indian communities are bidding to organise ‘Indian weddings’ with an increasing amount of fanfare and management skills. </p>.<p>Weddings have become a theatrical performance, where ‘presentations’ involving the bride and groom and their families are performed — be it the arrival of the groom’s baraat to the venue, the nuptial rituals, or the bride’s bidaai in a doli. Irrespective of the regional affiliation of the two families, these ‘filmi’ services include a procession of programmes like mehendi, sangeet, choreographed dances, games and many festive dinners around the wedding date. Luxury cars only take the groom till the last lap. He then switches over to a horse for the last lap, and the bride leaves in a heavily-decorated palki or doli, reminiscent of an older era.<br /><br />In recent years, the traditional doli — in its modern avatar — has become the latest craze in Indian weddings the world over. So much that it has even guest appearances on fashion shows. “This could be the direct impact of glamorous Bollywood weddings,” says Shaila Jain, a wedding planner/designer, “Indian pizzazz and glamour are in vogue in all countries. Celebrities of all nationalities come to India to get married. They soak in the Indian extravagance at palaces and resorts.</p>.<p> Even if they choose to marry abroad, they can consult many international Indian wedding planners who offer services — from organising the baraat and wedding rituals to designing the doli. The impressive list of such planners on the Internet leaves us astounded, to say the least. For instance, the silver filigree doli for Aishwarya Rai’s bidaai was designed from an heirloom piece. It took more than 22 days to make the structure, after the design was finalised by the Rai family. With its metallic handles covered with golden wires, the doli looked absolutely stunning, and of course, Ash made the most beautiful bride. Shilpa Shetty’s doli was bedecked with flowers. Some designers use fabric and gold work to embellish dolis. The rest simply followed suit. And the brides enjoy this memorable experience more than ever!”<br /><br />For most families, the events and rituals of a wedding are a status symbol. The wedding industry appears to be recession-proof with the wealthy pushing the envelope with ever wedding they fund. The Indian wedding industry has made headlines as families try to outdo each other in international locations like Nepal, Dubai, Thailand, Macau and even European countries. The baraat, wedding plus reception, and the doli are the highlights of all marriages.<br /><br />A brief glimpse into the history of the doli is interesting. Loosely translated as a palanquin in English, the word entered the English dictionary when the British colonised Bengal — where it was the custom for royal ladies to travel in palkis because they were not allowed to be seen outside of their homes. British women of that era in India also used the palki as a way of showing off their status in society. The doli soon became a symbol of richness.<br /> <br />Shaila Jain continues, “In affluent India, wedding designers wish to offer brides this ‘once-in-a-lifetime royal experience’ by planning their departure from the wedding venue in spectacularly dolis which are carried by men in decorated uniforms, to give an added touch of luxury. Today, the doli is available in various designs with fabric, metals, Sankheda-type Gujarati painted wood, floral swings or jhoolas, Mughal-style dolis inspired by the film Jodha Akbar, or Shahi dolis copied from Shekhawati or Rajput paintings. Whatever the design of the doli, it surely makes bidaai the grand finale, every bride deserves.</p>
