Baraat

I received an invitation

to join a wedding procession

He was closed to me

residing in same vicinity.

We had mutual friendship 

and also an intimate relation

I reached straight to the place

where from, had to start the procession.

Worried of the traffic jam

I reached well before the time

Fancy lights were on

and band was set in line.

Specially dressed groom

boarded on the decorated mare

To march to the wedding venue

folks and friends  were prepared.

Apart from the band

drum was also there, to play

On the tune of drum

started to dance, groom’s friends.

The street turned into

the house of opera

Everyone was racing

to come in front of camera

Band masters were paying attention

more to grab the currency notes

That were thrown and flown

by the groom’s congregates

I too, took out a hundred rupees note

the band master leaped to snatch

Poor children also soared for it

and left on me, minor scratch

In their push and pull

the note dropped from my hand

and danced in the wind

before fell on the land.

Now band and drum players

both were taking their chance

It looked like that

they were doing the ‘note dance’.

I am not aware

who were those fortuned

But the note went into

the hands of at least two.

Crackers were also exploded

hearing loud bang the mare went hostile

She was controlled soon

but everyone was furious for a while.

In a couple of hours

we reached unto the ‘pandal’

Friends and congregate folks

continued dance until ‘jaimal’

Thanks to the hosts

there was no small corner tent

Otherwise ‘baraties’ could have

wasted many more moments

On arrival to the venue,

the bride side greeted

We were served snacks and mocktails

what else was needed

Beautiful decoration

delicious food preparation

Like the king and queen

on a stage, the bride and groom sat on

I was watching very carefully,

all the ritual ceremonies

Not just the once but twice

everything was happening

Once as said by the ‘panditji’

after mantras recited

And next again as

the photographer directed

Whenever I get an invitation

I never miss to attend the ‘barat’

for the great fun and variety of

luscious food without cost.