Team building and leadership of this kind; Unheard by most…
An illustration of Synchronicity in absolute chaos.
There is a unique example of leadership and team building that Indian has witnessed since last around forty years. It probably started when cosmopolitans in form of busy roads was under its formation. The marriages in Northern India and elsewhere solemnize during night hours. As the tradition goes the groom has to start his journey for bride’s place in form of a procession; big or small depends upon the number of fraternity invited by the groom’s family. The procession is full of men and women folk dressed up in choicest of clothes and jewellery. Groom shall embark upon a mare as his ride during the entire; dressed up like a prince with a sword swinging around his waist he is one of its kind on that particular day.
The procession is led by a band followed by its band wagon followed by requisite generator for power supply. To enlighten the dark night the procession is illuminated by shoulder lights carried by carriers designated for that specific job. Besides the regular band there are one, two or more traditional drummers known as ‘Dhole walas’. All those who count as the part of that procession are called as ‘Baratis’. The moment any barat (marriage procession) shall initiate the air shall trigger itself with joy and mismanagement heading together. Each incumbent is simply lost in the thundering sounds blown by the trumpets and the beating of drums. There is an element on each head to display ones wearing, participate in the procession and get pushed for a dance in the moving ‘barat’ (marriage procession).
The immersion into that procession cannot be judged by any rationale of enjoying a party instead it’s a ‘joy in jostle’. When the ‘barat’ (marriage procession) moves there are several participants who deliberately consume liquor and come on the road to fume their ecstasy through their dance. The scene is worth watching as a witness disassociated from that rowdy move. Very close relatives can be easily identified by the pink turban they support on their heads; and they are the ones that are manoeuvred by other barati’s (participants of the marriage procession) to jump in on the floor of the moving marriage procession.
As the barat (marriage procession) moves on the busy road the traffic from both sides is felt exclusively inconsiderate of… The participants and the band has no concern for the traffic flow and immersed in their own ecstasy they choke busy roads resulting traffic jams. Another problem that comes into the procession is the fear of intrusion by chain snatchers or pick pocketers who sneak into the procession and silently accomplish with their smart moves. The third danger steps in when the intoxicated baratis (participants of the marriage procession) dance unconcerned of any impact they produce through their crazy dance and their act delays the procession from its prescribed schedule of arrival at bride’s place. The band and its accompaniments are happy for general delays unless booked for one shift on account that the more people dance the more is the outpour of the money they en shower and pass it as a tip to them (the band)in the fit of their joy…
A barat(marriage procession) has en number of issues that concern the general public and the participants themselves in light of its impact. The traffic movements on the road, the law and order, the time management, the dignified demonstration on road, the management of team members specially those that are tough to handle (intoxicated ones). This and few more subjects become probably cause of great concern while the marriage procession is on its move. Then there is another very foremost concern that is prevalent with few marriage processions and that is the bursting of fire crackers. Special teams are hired to demonstrate the fire cracker show; and that too while the barat (marriage procession) is on its move… which all the more risky to perform. The fire cracker show is about the thundering explosion of crackers, big sky rockets, fire fountains and vertical fire circles on their moves… to sum up it’s a show of fire cracker that in any case is not advisable while moving along with a marriage procession on a busy road. This demonstration at times leaves one with a very sorry figure on the part of those who arrange such risky demonstration unconcerned about the fate of others around irrespective that the one inflicted of any damage is a part of the procession or any passerby on the road.
There are issues of conflict between the band and the intoxicated ones to stand still at any point and continue playing a particular piece of music that they (participants) wish to enjoy more. The environ for a sensible who shall always side with harmony is quite alarming during these moves… but the problem with most stands that irrespective of the fact that they may like or dislike this kind of marriage procession… as and when their turn to commence and conduct a marriage arrives they too are driven by the forces of community conventions. Where is the leadership and team building in this illustration of total chaos shall be undertaken in the part-2 of this article. There is a great deal of learning in this illustration who need some navigation to initiate their move towards spear heading to lead their respective teams or work in synchronicity of team work. Desire2will.com. dinesh kumar. Learning under discipline.
