No dulha or dulhan, just lots of dhamaka at fake sangeet parties

Time of India

15 hours ago

'Focus is on the actual fun part of desi weddings' (Pic: @genzone.ie)
Imagine slipping into that designer lehenga you've been eyeing for months, getting your mehendi on, and having your Din Shagna Da moment – minus the groom/bride and the family drama.
Sounds like a dream wedding? Enter the shaadi party. It's a trend where people across age groups are embracing the big-fat-Indian-wedding vibe purely for fun. No rituals, no pheras, just dholwalas, mehendiwalas, DJs spinning Bollywood bangers, shaadi ka khaana and guests dressed to impress. It's all about the celebration, minus the stress.
"Fake sangeets are like repackaged versions of a pre-Diwali party. Now such events are happening across the country in tier-1 and tier-2 cities and are a big hit," says Shorya Gupta, co-founder, Gen Zone, curating such experiences in central India.
Think dholwalas, mehendiwalas, shaadi ka khana, mandap, DJ belting out some crazy Bollywood bangers, and the whole ambience screaming 'wedding,' but all of it just for fun (Pics: @jummaakiraat)
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'It's a fake shaadi in a club'
'It's exactly like a shaadi. Guests show up in Indian attire, and sometimes, random single people are asked to play the roles of a bride and groom,' says DJ Sumit Sethi, who conceptualised one such event in Kanpur with Tushar Gulati at Studio XO Bar. 'It's a fake shaadi in a club, over the weekend – with dhols, a DJ console, and a mandap as the backdrop. The trend is catching on in clubs, with events being hosted by party organisers and club owners.
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The music is usually Techno Bollywood. The trend is becoming popular among partygoers who want the wedding feel without the taam-jhaam of a real wedding,' he adds.
DJ Sumit Sethi: The trend is becoming popular among partygoers who want the wedding feel without the taam-jhaam of a real wedding
'People have more fun at their friends' or cousins' weddings. At a fake sangeet, you show up with the people you actually want to party with – your friends, your chosen family or your crew. There's no obligation, no pressure, just a shared love for Indian culture, nostalgia, and unfiltered fun,' shares Shivam Grover of Fake Sangeet Dubai.
There's a lot of attention to detail in fake sangeet planning too, say organisers. The decor has gende ke phool ki maalas, lit mehendi corners, fun photo booths, and a menu curated for shaadis (Pics: @jummaakiraat)
A Gen Z trend? Not really
While the idea of a fake sangeet has Gen Z written all over it - it's for everyone who loves to party and dress up. Jatish Ghai, General Manager of a hotel chain who organised one such event at their property in Nashik, says, 'The fake sangeet was a hit among Gen Z and millennials, for its rebellious spirit and emphasis on self-expression. The event captured the essence of dressing up, dancing like it's a family wedding, and connecting with strangers in a carefree, high-energy atmosphere.
The menu was curated to reflect the vibrant spirit of a fake sangeet.'
Sahib Gujral, co-founder, Jumma Ki Raat, which has organised such parties in Delhi, shares that Gen Z is at the forefront of every new trend, so naturally, they're getting credit for this one too. 'We (Gen Z) have been a rebellious generation, some of us have questioned norms and not valued our roots. But, after seeing all that the west has to offer, we realise that if our culture is presented to us in the right way, we love to cherish it.
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Delhi has always wanted to gatecrash a wedding without the family fallout so we're giving everyone the baraat, the beats, and the buffet, minus the baggage
Avadh Nagpal, co-founder, Souldout
'Focus is on the actual fun part of desi weddings'
Sahib says, 'We have had couples who got married in COVID bringing their friends to fake sangeet parties as their wedding party was still due. Many foreigners also attend these events to catch a glimpse of Indian culture. Delhi embraces new experiential concepts and is loving this one too.'
'The focus is on everything that people enjoy about desi weddings. Think Bollywood music, vibrant mehendi corners, killer food, dhol beats, dancing, and outfit drama! It brings together all the energy and excitement of a real wedding, without the family drama,' says Shivam Grover, who has been organising fake sangeet nights in Dubai.
'The trend is catching on in clubs, with events being hosted by party organisers and club owners' (Pics: @genzone.ie)
Fake sangeets are about that part of the wedding that everyone looks forward to. We just skip the rishtedaars and jump straight to the celebrations
Shivam Grover, who organises these parties in Dubai
What does it have in store for you?
Anant Gupta, who attended a fake shaadi party in Delhi, says, 'I love to dance and dress up, and since none of my friends are getting married anytime soon, fake sangeet seemed like the perfect opportunity. The vibe was on point, from the decor to the music, the mehendi waale bhaiya and the fact that there were parents partying too, all made it feel like we were at an asli sangeet.'
Jia Aswani, who recently attended a fake sangeet in Dubai, says, 'Indian weddings are like a three to four-day event, but this was three hours of fun sangeet vibes with no formalities of greeting relatives. I love dressing up extra and none of my friends are getting married at the moment, so, this is a win-win.'
Jitesh adds, "Highlights include playful bites like pani puri shots, crowd-pleasing finger foods, hearty mains like biryanis, and a selection of signature cocktails—all crafted to fuel the festivities without slowing anyone down."
I got married in February during Kumbh in Varanasi, so a lot of my close friends couldn't attend my wedding. Just two months later, they planned the sweetest surprise for me and took us to a fake sangeet party. It felt like it was our real sangeet, and we danced the whole night. The setup and the vibe was on point-
Priyanka Singh, who recently attended a fake sangeet in Delhi with husband Nikhil and their friends
For those couple whose wedding treats are pending, are calling their friends over at these fake sangeet parties (Pics: @jummaakiraat)