Falling short of baraatis to dance & cheer at your wedding? Now, rent some

Time of India

4 days ago

Pune: In a quirky twist, India's wedding industry has given rise to 'rent-a-baraatis', where professionals are hired to dance, cheer and bolster the groom's procession, creating a lively atmosphere even with few genuine guests.
This trend is especially popular among NRIs seeking to add a touch of traditional grandeur to their big-fat weddings.
The couple, Fatima and Aidan from Turkey, have a special tradition — celebrating each wedding anniversary in a different country with a grand celebration.
"They approached us last year saying they wanted a grand Indian wedding with all the rituals. They needed both guests and baraatis, so we helped them hire about 100 people for their wedding.
They got great pictures and videos of the functions," a Delhi-based wedding planner said.
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When Vijay from Chennai married Chandigarh-based Shweta (name changed), he faced an unexpected challenge. As per the wishes of Shweta's family, a loud and cheerful baraat was a must. Vijay said, "But hardly anyone in my family is confident of dancing because our weddings are usually quiet. I had to almost given in when we decided to rent baraatis to dance in the wedding.
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It was actually good fun."
The rented baraatis bring energy and glamour to weddings, creating an illusion of a larger social circle.
"Clients usually ask for 20-50 baraatis depending on the size of the wedding. They also have preferences in terms of the age and gender profile of the baraatis," Delhi-based wedding planner Mohsin Khan, founder of Vivah Luxury Weddings, said.
He said, "Some want more friends to be seen dancing, and some want a mixed crowd.
We partner with agencies to fulfill these requirements and even rent costumes to match the wedding theme."
Divya, who rented baraatis for her 2023 wedding, said, "Nobody except us knows they're rented, so how does it matter? The photos and videos look great, and the baraatis blend in seamlessly with the other guests."
This perspective highlighted the debate around renting baraatis, with some seeing it as a harmless way to enhance wedding celebrations, while others view it as a reflection of societal pressure to project a certain image.
Wedding manpower agencies emphasized that thorough background checks were conducted before hiring baraatis to ensure a seamless experience.
Arvind Vishwakarma, who runs a baraati rental agency in Bhopal, said, "We provide baraati services for NRI and destination weddings, training them to fit the occasion. We even hire actors to play specific roles, like older relatives, and teach them to respond vaguely if asked about their connection to the family."
Renting a baraati isn't cheap. It costs anywhere between Rs 2,500 to 5,000 per baraati, which also includes the cost of outfit rental.
With a passion for dancing, Abhishek from Bhopal has performed in numerous weddings as a rented baraati. "I danced in almost 30-35 weddings in the last 3-4 years. I enjoy getting charged up for every baraat," he said, adding, "I operate within fixed hours, usually three hours for local weddings.
For destination weddings, travel and stay costs are covered."
Tushar Gawande, founder of Happy Minds Events, notes that renting baraatis is a popular choice for destination weddings. "Instead of booking rooms and making travel arrangements for many guests, clients opt to rent baraatis," he said. "We train them according to the playlist or theme, and source external manpower for special requests. There is high demand for baraatis in carnival-themed weddings."
Sukhraj Singh, who runs Raj Events in Ambala, said there is good demand for rental baraatis in and around the city. "We also have a DJ on wheels for baraats using which we conceptualise the baraat theme. We also get requests to engage Russian dancers in baraats," he said.
Pooja Prema, who hired baraatis for her wedding, said, "My finace and I wanted a grand celebration with dance and music. Unfortunately, everyone in our family is shy and reserved. Getting them to dance was a task so we decided to hire the services of an agency and rented baraatis."