International
oi-Ruchika Pareek
The
internet
is
going
crazy
over
a
colourful
Indian
wedding
procession
that
is
making
its
way
down
Wall
Street
in
New
York
City.
A
group
of
Indian
Americans
in
traditional
clothing
can
be
seen
dancing
merrily
to
Bollywood
music
in
the
centre
of
Manhattan’s
financial
sector
in
a
now-viral
Instagram
video.
This
unusual
and
remarkable
sight
has
drawn
attention
from
social
media
users
worldwide.
Swaying
to
upbeat
music,
the
procession
includes
women
in
vibrantly
coloured
lehengas
and
men
dressed
in
kurtas
and
sherwanis.
Brimming
with
happiness,
the
bride
and
groom
are
in
the
midst
of
the
dance,
joining
their
loved
ones
in
celebrating.
from
the
viral
video.
Even
though
ornate
processions
are
frequently
seen
on
Indian
streets
during
wedding
season,
watching
one
take
place
on
Wall
Street,
which
is
usually
crowded
with
suits
and
stock
tickers,
has
captured
the
attention
of
many.
Many
people
on
the
internet
found
the
scene
to
be
both
delightful
and
startling.
“This
looks
like
so
much
fun!” said
one
person.
Another
person
said,
“Damn,
that’s
a
wedding
now.”
“We
cannot
complain
if
they
obtained
permission
and
paid
for
it,”
a
third
person
wrote.
Have
fun.
“The
Indian
diaspora’s
financial
power
and
showcasing
Indian
culture,”
said
yet
another
commenter.
One
question
keeps
coming
up
as
the
video
goes
viral:
How
did
they
do
this,
and
what
was
required
to
make
it
happen?
A
Celebration
Beyond
Borders
Instead
of
concentrating
only
on
the
expenses,
many
see
the
occasion
as
a
daring
display
of
joy,
culture,
and
community
–
a
reminder
of
how
Indian
customs
are
being
honoured
internationally.
For
the
diaspora,
these
occasions
are
declarations
of
pride,
identity,
and
belonging
rather
than
merely
a
showy
spectacle.
Indeed,
it
is
feasible
to
block
off
streets
in
New
York
City
for
private
gatherings,
but
it
is
not
an
easy
task.
The
Mayor’s
Office
of
Citywide
Event
Coordination
and
Management
(CECM),
in
coordination
with
the
Department
of
Transportation
and
the
NYPD,
is
responsible
for
obtaining
special
permits.
Events
need
to
be
approved
far
in
advance
and
meet
specific
requirements.
While
some
online
questioned
the
logistics
and
speculated
about
costs,
others
saw
something
deeper
–
a
vibrant
cultural
moment
unfolding
in
a
place
not
often
associated
with
wedding
festivities.
Amid
the
gray
buildings
and
high-paced
finance
world,
the
sight
of
a
dancing
baraat
was,
for
many,
an
unforgettable
contrast.
What
might
look
like
just
a
flashy
wedding
to
some
is,
for
others,
a
powerful
celebration
of
tradition
meeting
modernity
–
where
culture
isn’t
confined
by
borders,
and
joy
can
take
over
even
the
most
unexpected
streets.
