Farewell parties are always fun. There is dance, music, food and weddings. Wait...weddings? How can weddings be a part of farewell? Well, we had the same question when we came across IIT Kanpur's weird yet exceptional tradition of farewell. No one knows who started the tradition but it is being continued till today. Do you know what is this tradition? Two final-year boys of Senior UG Hostel marry each other following every ritual. Before you raise your eyebrows, let me tell you these weddings are just mock weddings to bid a memorable goodbye to final-year students.
"Saanso mein tum, aahon mein tum; Har raat bahon mein tum; Mere liye khona bhi tum pana bhi tum."
The romantic shayari above surely melts our hearts. However, can you imagine a boy saying these lines to another boy? While homosexuality is still not accepted, IIT Kanpur boys are normalising it, even though in a fun and quirky way. The lines above were said by a boy who is marrying another boy, albeit in a mock wedding.
The tradition of the mock wedding
The big fat mock wedding is known as 'Hall 1 ki Baaraat' farewell tradition. It has been organised by final-year students for years now. As a part of the tradition, the groom and bride are selected through election. Then, a royal wedding is organised with all the customs - baaraat, mehendi, haldi and the wedding.
The bride is dressed up by the girls of the hostel. The groom comes with his baaraat to Hall 1 and the wedding takes place in the basketball ground. Boys and girls are dressed in either a kurta or a saree. There is no shyness or shame in boys dancing openly decked in sarees. It is a full-on celebration with lots of dance, music and enjoyment that makes the farewell memorable for the final-year students walking out of the college.
The filmy twist in the wedding
But this is not it. The mock wedding has a mock twist too. A masala that makes the wedding look like a Bollywood scene. Do you know what happens?
The bride's lover enters the wedding with his gang. There is a fight involved, mock of course. The one who wins the fight gets to marry the bride.
IIT Kanpur's website recognises and appreciates the tradition. It says that the tradition showcases a culture of no discrimination be it caste, race, religion or sex.
If you are from IIT Kanpur, do share your experience. If not, would you be a part of the 'Hall1 Baaraat'? Before sharing your responses, have a look at the quirky way of normalising homosexuality and breaking gender binaries.
/shethepeople/media/agency_attachments/iUYfaBbcMozaYLoGnoov.png)
/shethepeople/media/member_avatars/1000032049.jpg )
Follow Us/shethepeople/media/media_files/u0ptO9QM9Shj8xxE6iPS.png)