Hyderabad: Gone are the days when people used to plan their weddings and functions only some weeks prior to the wedding. The trend has now changed. Wedding lawn trends has almost replaced the old traditions of ceremonies including pre-wedding customs and traditions, prolonged stay of guests, extensive journeys and many other practices. Lawn trend has also reached Hyderabad; lawns and banquets can be found at various locations, with a provision of luxurious facilities. Loud music, ample crew and colorful lights attracts everyone and it claimed my attention as well. I, along with my roommate, Anand Kumar, visited one such banquet lawn in Hyderabad. We were welcomed with a big smile on wrinkled face. Our host, Faqeer Muhammad, has been working on the lawn for last 11 years and has seen many couples tie the sacred knot. We were then introduced to the manager of that lawn, Adnan Sohu. He thought us as one of his customers but to his dismay we told him about our purpose of visit. Once the introductions were made, he started praising the new trend. He said that one of the major reasons behind the rapid success of this trend, according to him, is the fact that nowadays people want to save their time and this is why there has been an influx toward this trend. Trend of wedding in lawns has almost replaced the old traditions of ceremonies including pre-wedding customs and traditions, prolonged stay of guests, extensive journeys and many other practices He said that their service includes decoration, lighting, vehicle parking for the function but when it comes to the food, people mostly prefer self arrangement. They select their own menu depending on their choice as well as their budget. He also said that if required, they do arrange for the food as well. He said that since the services include the major time consuming tasks of decoration, clients mostly prefer lawns. There was another lawn nearby with an ongoing event and we decided to intrude as uninvited guests. We were greeted by the groom himself but to our relief, we were welcomed. The sound of Ghulam Faqeer dholak (Drum) was mixed with the tunes of Shehnai (traditional music for weddings). Dhoolak and shehnai are considered very important part of Subcontinent’s culture. Although many cultural traditions are now obsolete but these instruments have made their place in modern days as well. “It is our family profession and our many generations have spent their lives playing them, we work hard to earn but nowadays new music system has affected our work”, Faqeer said. In older times, when distances were greater but the relations were closer, marriages used to last for days. Celebrations were more extensive with many colourful traditions. Marriages were a mutual event with the whole family and neighbours participating actively. The tasks were divided among the relatives and friends. Everyday people would gather to celebrate the event and such celebrations would last for many days. Every evening local singer, mostly the women, would sing songs for the bride and groom, called ‘Sehra/Geet’. Groom along with his family and friends would go to bride’s house to take her. This event was, and still is, called baraat. The event comprised many traditions and activities including Moun Dekhai, the ceremony where bride’s veil is lifted. However, such trends are lost in modern times. People have adapted the new trends like this current trend of banquet lawns. Such trends have deprived us of the traditional richness of these events. Our busy routines have forced us to adapt more time saving ways of celebrations. Published in Daily Times, March 18th 2018.