'Against Our Culture'? Jains, Gujaratis In Bhopal Ban Pre-Wedding Shoots & Male Choreographers

Weddings are getting excessively elaborate. It is not just about the wedding function anymore - there's mehndi, haldi, sangeet, cocktail, pre-wedding photo shoots, wedding, reception, post-wedding photo shoot, and the list goes on. While a lot of these functions are part of the traditional shaadi shenanigans, they are no longer intimate affairs with family, neighbours and close friends.

While, It might not be the worst idea to tone-down such functions to curb the ridiculous amount of money that is wasted on them, the Jain and Gujarati Samaj organisations in Bhopal have banned pre-wedding photo shoots for a bizarre reason.

Pre-wedding shoots and the hiring of male choreographers to give dance training to females, have been banned. The organisation has also forbidden women from dancing in wedding processions.

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The organisations issued a circular to inform the community members of the restrictions, and the reason they gave for the bans was that it was ¡®against their culture and create problems within the society¡¯.

"The pre-wedding shoots that are being recorded will be stopped. We are issuing a circular and are also spreading the message by circulating the letter. We have also requested our members to stop choreographer's entry in the name of ladies dance function," ANI quoted Sanjay Patel, President of Bhopal Gujarat Samaj and National General Secretary of Gujarati Samaj, as saying.

He also added that people who refuse to adhere to the guidelines will be boycotted from the community. "This decision has been appreciated by all the members and the person who will rebel against it will be boycotted from society. I also wish that this ban should be imposed across India in all Gujarati communities," he added.

Shaadi Dukaan

Pramod Himanshu Jain, President of Bhopal Jain Samaj reportedly said, "Now in Jain society, neither pre-wedding shoot will take place nor would male choreographers be allowed to enter the function. One of my gurus advised me to put a stop on this as according to him it was obscene.¡± He further said, "We have also prepared a draft of the ban. It will be issued in the next meeting. A lot of times many marriages are broken because of such things and the entire family in the society has to face embarrassment.¡±

The youth are criticising the move and asking the organisation to reconsider the decision. A local, Sherry, said, "Pre-wedding shoot is only to make memories. There is nothing obscene in it. When you have already fixed the marriage with the person then what is the problem. Putting a ban is not right.¡±

Another said, "Each one of us should have a right to celebrate in our own way. There is a problem with the mindset of the people. People should be allowed to make their own choices. They just display their love and affection in the pre-wedding shoot.¡±

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As if that was not enough, Madhya Pradesh public relations minister PC Sharma has backed the decision, ¡°These things were certainly not a part of our culture. I believe that whatever people prohibits, it is from a social point of view. If people again follows the old trends and culture, their marriages would be more successful and joyful.¡±

My problem with the whole needless expenditure on weddings aside, I cannot fathom, what exactly is against culture here. People getting clicked together? Women dancing? MEN dancing? When did enjoyment at a wedding in the form of dance become against culture?

How is it that, yet again, it is women, who somehow have the onus of protecting a family's 'image' in society, which - according to the statements made - can be easily tarnished by them dancing in a wedding procession or learning dance from a male tutor?

The definition of culture is subjective, much like most things in the world. It is not for a bunch of people to decide how people should celebrate their happiness. The decision of the organisation needs to be reconsidered because this might be taking us back at least half a century.