Bengaluru: The baarat that took over Manhattan’s iconic Fifth Avenue was “Act 4” of Pankti Doshi and Avish Jain’s five-day wedding.
Doshi describes herself as a New York City “Event Creator & Genetic Counselor”. Jain is also a multi-hyphenate—Singer, performer, endocrinologist and medical journalist.
The celebrations, which took place from 21 to 25 April, spanned five venues, six DJs, eight caterers, 10 choreographers, 16 fashion/jewellery designers, 400 guests and 8,000 flowers, according to the New York Post. The conservative tabloid was given an exclusive look inside the events.
The couple secured a parade permit with the NYPD six months in advance to shut down prime NYC real estate for an hour.
Daily permit fees for street events can range from $3,100 to over $66,000, depending on size. Additional charges may apply, such as a $3,000 refundable security deposit for large private events, the Post said.
The couple opted out of the traditional setup, where the groom makes his way to the bride during the baraat and chose to do it together. The move ensured both parties were part of the spectacle.
“It was just one of our most memorable moments of the entire wedding,” said Jain to the Post. “I think for a good half hour at least, everyone forgot all their woes, and just got to just dance on the streets.”
And what did the bride wear for her internet-breaking baarat? A “silk, turquoise-blue lehenga embroidered in gold and rose beading”, “custom-made” from Lajpat Nagar.
The Post even managed to make Delhi’s go-to spot for budget-friendly ethnic wear sound like Khan Market—calling it “a hub in South East Delhi known for showcasing up-and-coming designers and emerging brands.”
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Celebrating in New York
The couple met in New York in 2023, when Doshi’s company hired Jain to perform at an event they hosted at the nightclub, Somewhere Nowhere NYC.
Raised in San Francisco, Doshi, 33, spent time in LA, Chicago, London and Singapore before settling down in NYC. Jain, 30, grew up in Red Bank, New Jersey. The Post describes him as “a third-generation, classically trained Bollywood singer and dancer who performs regularly with top stars in the industry.
“We wanted to host everything in NYC — to give everybody the true New York City experience,” Doshi told the Post.
The celebrations began with a welcome party and mehendi at the nightclub where the couple first met. They began the night with a choreographed dance number.
“We thought it would be such a fantastic way to kick-start each event by choreographing a short Bollywood dance,” Jain told the Post.
Day two, a Haldi and Garba night, was set at the Rockefeller Center.
Then came the Sangeet. They put on a song-and-dance show that followed the narrative of their love story. This mini musical format has become the norm for weddings in India, but the Post reported it with awe, calling it a “left-field idea”.
Of course, the sangeet matched the baraat in its execution. It was performed at an off-Broadway theatre—Theatre for a New Audience at Polonsky Shakespeare Center.
The venue was finalised after 65 theatrical venues across town refused to host them, citing logistical concerns.
‘Family, friends, Jain’s collegiate Bollywood dance team and even the couple themselves performed skits, songs and dance numbers throughout the night on stage, all under a lit-up sign that read—Now Premiering Avish & Pankti,” wrote the Post.
Day four was dedicated to the baraat and the wedding. The Fifth Avenue parade ended at Radio City Music Hall. The wedding took place on the rooftop of 50 Rockefeller Plaza. The couple wore the traditional red. Doshi wore the red saree her mother wore on her 25th wedding anniversary.
She walked down the aisle to a recorded re-working of the song Jain had written for her when he proposed.
“A female Jain priest — the couple’s shared religion — presided, conducting the majority of the Milni ceremony in English, with some Sanskrit, Gujarati and Hindi interspersed for specific rituals,” wrote the Post.
Their five-day extravaganza ended with a reception at Sony Hall, an underground speakeasy.