Till half a century back, a bride would wait for her Prince Charming to arrive for the marriage ceremony on a bejewelled stallion accompanied by band, baaja and baraat. Cut to the present, many grooms prefer to make a grand entry at the wedding venue flaunting their luxurious cars. Some ceremonies and traditions undergo a makeover with time, but there’s something about the retro feel that everyone wants to cling on to.
That may be the reason horse drawn carriages are once again back in fashion when it comes to weddings. For many families in the state, a stallion-drawn carriage is a bigger style statement than a flashy limousine. As a result, there is a sudden rise in demand for horse-drawn carriages at weddings.
“Horse-drawn carriages add a different dimension to wedding processions. Also, returning with the bride on a carriage adds pomp to the entire proceedings. I am leaving no stone unturned to arrange for a horse-drawn carriage for my younger brother’s wedding,” says Subhrant Bal of Jagatsinghpur, who is looking for a carriage drawn by a white horse.
From wearing their best attire to flaunting their priced jewellery to arranging a lavish feast, weddings are perhaps the only occasion when Indians don’t shy away from spending without a second thought. And wedding processions are certainly a way of flaunting status.
“People on the road enjoy watching a wedding procession. But onlookers often fail to get a glimpse of the groom’s face and his attire if he is in a car. However, if the groom is on horseback both his face and outfit are easily visible. Moreover, a horse drawn carriage also lifts the standard of the procession,” says Subhrant.
Given the surge in demand for horse-driven carriages, a number of small-time traders from Uttar Pradesh have shifted base to Odisha and have started renting out their horses and carriages for weddings. Akram Ali, who hails from Badaun district of Uttar Pradesh, now stays in Jagatpur in Cuttack with his horse and carriage. “My brothers and I set up a small business here a year and a half ago. Earlier, I was working as a riding instructor at HI Q International Academy, Dehradun but now I am self-employed,” he says.
Much like Akram, there are a number of other small-time traders from Badaun who have set up businesses and are making a hefty amount by renting out horses for weddings. “The idea struck me after I saw that many people from my village were moving to Odisha. I too decided to start my own business and quit my job to join my brothers here,” says Akram.
Carriages decorated with lights and decked up with flowers give a royal touch to any wedding procession. The demand for horses and carriages vary depending on the requirement and budget of the clients. Moreover, the duration of rentals too plays an important role in deciding the cost of the overall package. The growing demand has encouraged traders to add more horses to their stable. “Initially, I had four white horses and one black horse. Later, I got four more horses from Uttar Pradesh as the demand for horse-drawn carriages goes up during the wedding season,” adds Akram.
Kasim Ali, who is the oldest horse carriage owner in Cuttack, too is from Badaun. Today, he considers Odisha his home and he is happy doing business here. “I came here six years ago with my horses. I made the carriages here. Most of the time clients ask for a horse along with a carriage. We decorate the carriage as per their demand, and the client only has to pay for the flowers,” he says.
A single-horse drawn carriage costs between Rs 10,000 and Rs 12,000 while a carriage with two horses comes for Rs 15,000. Given that the demand for horse-drawn carriages is growing across the state, a lot of business is generated. “We provide the client with our bank account details for an advance payment and reach the venue just before the event. At times, we also have to hire a truck to carry both the horses and the carriage if the distance is too much because if the horses get tired, they may be reluctant to walk in the procession,” says Akram.
Cuttack-based Bikash Kumar, who got married recently, hired a four-horse driven carriage, as he wanted his wedding procession to look elaborate. “Riding a carriage pulled by white stallions is an experience of a lifetime. It made me feel like a prince. It was my wife’s dream that I come on a horse-driven carriage to make our marriage look like a fairytale. It cost me about Rs 18,000, but given that you only marry once, I didn’t mind the cost,” says the 29-year-old businessman.
Wedding planners in the city also confirm that there has been a considerable rise in demand for horse drawn carriages lately. “The trend started a few years ago and is here to stay. There are many who still prefer cars. Earlier, only royal families had the privilege of riding these carriages, but now anyone willing to shell out a few extra bucks can afford a carriage. The cost of horse-drawn carriages is significantly higher, as a luxury white car can be hired for something between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000,” says a city-based wedding planner.
However, the picture isn’t all rosy, at least for the horse traders. Wedding sessions definitely give a boost to their business but they have to struggle for the rest of the year. “There’s hardly any income after the wedding season is over. The livelihood of six people depends on these horses. Moreover, we also have to take care of the horses, and their food costs a lot. We have to keep them fit as well as maintain the carriage throughout the year,” says Akram.
However, the horses don’t sit idle once the wedding season is over. The traders rent them out for film and television shoots and there’s also a small demand for personal use. Also, most traders keep stallions in line with the traditions followed at Indian weddings. “At Indian weddings, only stallions are used, so there’s no point having anything else,” says Akram. Interestingly, these traders too have their own beliefs and rituals. Each stable has a black horse as it is a symbol of ‘Shani Maharaj,’ who, it is believed, keeps a vigil on the health and well-being of the other horses.
Government-appointed veterinary doctors visit the stables once a month. Taking the horses to veterinary clinics when they fall ill is another item of expense for which the traders have to keep adequate funds.
Kasim says that with more horse traders jumping onto the bandwagon, the competition too is fierce. “The demand from border districts rises during the wedding season. But demand during other times of the year is also growing. I rent out the carriages for Rs 8,000-Rs 10,000 for three-four hours for other purposes,” says Kasim. However, this doesn’t include the food of the coachman.
“Lately, many grooms have started preferring horse-drawn carriages to just a horse. Hence the cost has gone up. A carriage looks more impressive than just a horse or palki. The maximum demand for carriages is from Sambalpur, Rourkela, Bhubaneswar and Berhampur,” says Kasim, adding, “At times, bookings are made for multiple days, as many want the carriages to carry the groom to the wedding location, bring the newlyweds back home, and then take them to the reception.”
A few carriage drivers also offer joyrides to guests. However, there’s always an extra cost for that. “We charge a minimum of Rs 16,500 for weddings. We get enquiries from Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri. If the destination is far, we ask the client to arrange for transportation,” says Bilal, who owns 12 horses, including 10 white stallions.
SOYONG, OP
