Garhwali Sangeet & the Basics You Need Before Organising One

The Garhwali community has been living in Uttarakhand for forever. They have a very simple yet rich culture. Their folklore is heavily influenced by mountains and you can feel their essence in Garhwali songs and dance. When it comes to weddings, they are very firm in their traditions. Just like any Indian wedding, they also believe in going all out but still keeping it simple and tasteful.

With all the traditions and rituals, a Garhwali Sangeet is one event where everything is about enjoying yourself. There are no formal rituals to perform, it is just like any other Indian Sangeet where everyone gathers together and dances till the sun comes up.

It can be daunting for a bride to organise a fun night for a Sangeet, especially if she lives in a city like Delhi or Mumbai. If you want to throw the best party ever but still have elements of an authentic Garhwali Sangeet, here are some planning ideas for you to go through.

In this article, you will know everything about a Garhwali Sangeet from the way they make their guest lists to the way you can dress up for it.

Have fun reading!

Who to invite?

If you are a Garhwali you know that family is everything. Just like everyone else, they love nothing more than inviting everyone they hold dear to their hearts. You must have heard the very famous Indian phrase - atithi devo bhava.

It means that every guest that comes to your home should be treated like a God. When you are making your guest list keep in mind that you remember all your family and friends.

While the youngsters increase the fun quotient in a Garhwali Sangeet, it is the elders that add life to it. You will thank them for their knowledge of the best folk songs and authentic Garhwali dance moves. Maybe you can learn a step or two from them and give your own performance.

Songs you need in your playlist!

Music is a big part of the Garhwali community. They are so fun that almost every person who has grown up in the hills knows the lyrics by heart. If you are a Garhwali but tying the knot in a city or area where not many Garhwalis live, you should definitely host a Garhwali Sangeet for all your friends and family.

They should also know all about your culture. Music is a great way to introduce everyone. Apart from the Bollywood dance numbers, you have to play a Garhwali playlist as well. We assure you that no one will be able to resist dancing to these soft tunes.

Their lyrics are quite meaningful and you can dedicate some songs to your groom as well.

Here is a list of songs you need to add in your Garhwali Sangeet playlist.

• Bedu pako bara masa
• Pushpa chori pauri khale ki 
• Babli tero mobile 
• Maya band
• Surma sarela 
• Leela ghasyari
• Sun ja bat meri ha
• Gaajna 
• Rock and roll baba rock and roll
• Dhaunda padige bhainsi

These are the popular songs played in most Garhwali Sangeet ceremonies.

Latest ideas you can include in your Garhwali Sangeet

Image Courtesy: JB Photography

If you live in a city, the best idea we can give you for your Garhwali Sangeet is to go to your hometown, not just for the Sangeet but for the wedding as well. We think if you want to honour your culture at your wedding, you should go to your roots. There you can easily organise the best event with Garhwali elements in every aspect of the wedding. You will not even realise but you will end up throwing the best party of your life.

Decor ideas will just come to you when you are in that environment. Other areas where you can show the Garhwali influence are the outfits you can wear and serve the traditional Garhwali dishes to your guests.

Wear Garhwali outfits - when it comes to outfits, you can wear the typical Ghaghra Pichora. It is actually the bridal wear for Garhwali brides but you can drape the dupatta with your Sangeet outfit to honour your roots. You can also accessorise your look with a Garhwali Nath, which most of the married Garhwali women wear for big ceremonies.

Serve authentic Garhwali dishes - we feel food is the best way to bond with someone and show them your traditions in a fulfilling way. You have to serve some of these  Garhwali dishes to your guest on your Garhwali Sangeet. Here is a list of food items you can choose from!

• Bhang ki chutney
• Aalu ka jhol
• Kafuli
• Phaanu
• Baadi
• Chainsoo
• Aalu gutook
• Kumaoni raita
• Sisunam saag
• Dubuk
• Arsa
• Singodi
• Jhangora ki kheer

These were all our ideas for how you can easily organise a Garhwali Sangeet if you have no idea about their culture. It is a great idea to show everyone who you are at your core, especially your partner if he is not a Garhwali.

Want an authentic wedding but don’t have time to plan one? Get in touch with these wedding planners!