THE SANGEET...Aaja Nachle - Part 2

Nov 14th...Aaja Nachle...Nachle...Nachle mere saath tu nachle...

 

Finally, we arrive at  the part 2 of the SANGEET post...where one could see the Dhol - Dhamaka, the true Punjabi spirit, the Jago ceremony...the mesmerising dancing...it  was like being in a Karan Johar movie with  everyone dressed to the nines! Punjabi's are truly uninhibited...they do everything with so much passion, warmth and grandeur...

Warning - this is a colour intense and picture heavy post!! Leave your chunnu munnu to your hubby darling...grab some masala chai, let down your hair, switch on some Bhangra music and read the post !!! And...all photographs are copyright of JL photography...
And...and Click on the photographs to see a larger sized picture

Now the Sangeet was to be held at The Woodlands at Woodbury, NY...The mansion at The Woodlands at Woodbury stands majestically in the heart of 120 perfectly manicured acres.The ambiance is very rich, elegant...and the staff extremely gracious and hospitable.

The beautiful mansion  and the gorgeous pair...

Winter had set in, meaning the air was extremely cold, with the sun setting by 4:30 PM...so driving through the narrow unknown lanes in the dark...was kinda a chore. We got lost...(even GPS can go wrong in the inner town lanes),were running late!! but did reach on the dot of 7:30 PM. Rab raka!! 

The Bridal party with all the smiles, gifts in our hands, entered the Sangeet hall ....!!!Now we expected bling...but the Bling-O-Bling did take our breath away...

With smiles, Jadoo ki chappies and 'Heloo ji', we walked to where Raja and Purni with Raja's parents were standing...wow, what a pair and pair...Masha allah!!!...Rab ne banaye dono jodi ko...Bete tho bete...Parents bhi kuch kam nahi...

We made our way with the gifts...

The gift giving done, it was time for some  meet and greet and picture sessions...more hi!! wow!!...Jadoo ki Chappies and heloo jee...

The men were looking dapper and crisp in their Suits...some flamboyant...some very GQ looking...the women gorgeous in their  sequins...the diamonds and Swarovski shimmering...elegant, gorgeous ...all out to have fun...

Some Shagun exchange...and partaking of mithai...

This was followed by more pictures sessions.... one thing to note in all Punjabi weddings...finish all the picture taking sessions at the start of the Party...cos, once the dhol starts playing, everyone is on the dance floor...

If you need a break - go ahead...but come back quickly, as we will now have the beautiful Siya (Raja's niece) present a dance...Kudos to Siya...dancing amidst a crowd of nearly 80 people...wow...way to go baby...

 the proud Nana...Siya captivating the audience with her dancing...

  

and the proud Pa...watching his baby perform...

Then came Dr. Suvarna...Now this lady is a well know doc in Tampa...but her passion is Dance!! She can dance hip hop, bangra, Bharat natyam, folk,...kuchupudi...she was born with dancing feet...Presenting the gorgeous Suvarna, dancing to a special song...that Purni loves...

This was followed by Binti and Amit (Raja's Sis and BIL) dancing to some awesome Latino beats...wow isn't it!! Told ya...these guys are fun...

Then came Purni and Raja's friends...buddies, ...pals...who know them and have lived with other, for a greater part of their life...the stories they weaved and shared with all!!!...interesting stuff that I cannot put on this post...(wink wink)

...yes the crowd had a great time listening to the stories...

And then...there was a hush!!...the lights darkened...

And a gorgeous kudi (girl) with a beautifully decorated pot on her head, entered the hall...followed by her mom, cousins, aunties, friends...

And the Dhol began to play...and the kudi danced to the feet taping music...the dance was mesmerising...her body swayed to the rhythm...her hands never let go the pot...a smile on her face, a twinkle in her eyes...she kept dancing...

And then the pot passed hands...

And was given to the Raja's  mom and then the sisters, the cousins, the friends, the aunties...

  

...and the women continued to dance and sway to the fabulous music and dhol

...the dhol kept on playing...

And then Purnima, Raja, and the menfolk joined in...the pot kept getting passed...from one to another...and the dhol kept playing

The rest of us could no longer resist and everyone jumped onto the dance floor...Wow...what a start  to the Sangeet!!

There was not a single person sitting on their chairs thereafter...one could feel the excitement in the air!!

This was the Jago ceremony!...The Jago ceremony usually happens the night before a Punjabi wedding and is a chance for friends and family to rejoice and dance together in celebration. A pot (gaggar) is decorated with candles and carried on the head whilst dancing and singing Jago songs. The word Jago means “Wake up” and gets everyone in the mood for whats to come. The Jago ceremony starts with the  sister or the sister-in-law or the aunt colourfully dressed in a traditional Punjabi Ghaghara and she dances with the pot on her head. The pot is then passed around the rest of the family and friends where they take their turn in the Jago alongside everyone else.
What a fabulous ceremony...We loved it...!!! the entire crowd kept  dancing...hands clapping....

...the Cocktails were served.... and the dhol kept playing... the people kept dancing...
...the Dinner got served....and the dhol kept playing... the people kept dancing...
...the Desert got served....and the dhol kept playing... the people kept dancing...

Fabulous food...the Chaat was lajawab!! crisp puries, yummicious Bhel, Pani puri, Dahi sev puries, Samosa...the list was endless. the falafals seemed as though they were flown from Istanbul...the Saag paneer, the crispy bhindi aloo, the dhal pakwans...the Bombay chinese cuisine....the Italian kana for some...we were all in food heaven...
And then came the garam Kashmiri Gulab Jamun, the Phirni, the mung dal halwa, the Carrot ki halwa...oh yes there were fruits for the not so brave...but who wants fruits when you have GJ, Phirni and halwa!!!

...there was more pictures taken as the evening turned into night...pictures that would become keepsakes of this lovely evening...and the dhol kept playing...

...the night continued...the dhol kept playing...and people kept dancing...

What a night! Don't you agree??....