Bringing the revelry to an Indian wedding

Published December 21, 2012
Members of a brass band stroll on an empty street while they wait to perform.
Members of a brass band stroll on an empty street while they wait to perform.
Members of a brass band distribute money they got as tip from the relatives and friends of a groom.
Members of a brass band distribute money they got as tip from the relatives and friends of a groom.
Members of the brass band play as fireworks are set off.
Members of the brass band play as fireworks are set off.
Relatives and friends of a groom dance.
Relatives and friends of a groom dance.
A man dances during a wedding.
A man dances during a wedding.
A man dances during a wedding.
A man dances during a wedding.
A member of a brass band holds a board displaying the names of a bride and her groom.
A member of a brass band holds a board displaying the names of a bride and her groom.
Atar Singh, 45, a member of a brass band, pauses as his other members perform.
Atar Singh, 45, a member of a brass band, pauses as his other members perform.
Members of a brass band stand next to a portable chandelier used to illuminate a procession.
Members of a brass band stand next to a portable chandelier used to illuminate a procession.
Members of a brass band rest against a wall as they wait to perform.
Members of a brass band rest against a wall as they wait to perform.
A member of a brass band adjusts his colleague's headdress before.
A member of a brass band adjusts his colleague's headdress before.
A member of a brass band takes a picture of his colleague before performing.
A member of a brass band takes a picture of his colleague before performing.
Members of a brass band play cards as they wait to perform.
Members of a brass band play cards as they wait to perform.
Members of a brass band walk past a residential building to perform at a wedding procession.
Members of a brass band walk past a residential building to perform at a wedding procession.
Members of a brass band sit on a bus on their way to perform.
Members of a brass band sit on a bus on their way to perform.
Members of a brass band wait to board a bus.
Members of a brass band wait to board a bus.
Musical instruments hang on the wall of a basement as a member of a brass band gets ready.
Musical instruments hang on the wall of a basement as a member of a brass band gets ready.
Rafiq Mohammed, 25, a member of a brass band, rests in a basement of a residential building before leaving.
Rafiq Mohammed, 25, a member of a brass band, rests in a basement of a residential building before leaving.
Members of a brass band are reflected in a glass while standing outside their office in New Delhi.
Members of a brass band are reflected in a glass while standing outside their office in New Delhi.
Members of a brass band practice in an empty space outside a residential area in New Delhi.
Members of a brass band practice in an empty space outside a residential area in New Delhi.
Members of a brass band walk through the bushes after their practice session outside a residential area.
Members of a brass band walk through the bushes after their practice session outside a residential area.

Weddings in North India are never complete until the family members of the bride and groom dance, often to the tune of popular Bollywood songs. Brass bands are hired to play at the wedding procession in which the groom's family dances all the way to the wedding venue where the bride's family waits to receive them.

A procession, known as a 'Barat,' is usually accompanied by bright lights, fireworks, loud music and dancing. The brass bands normally play a mix of Indian and western musical instruments and the members of the band, who come together during the wedding season, earn around $10-12 per wedding. Delhi-based photographer Mansi Thapliyal wanted to take a closer look at the musicians and find out more about who they are, what they do when they're not entertaining wedding guests and what their day-to-day struggles are. - Photos by Reuters

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