Indo-Caribbean people and many other descendants of indentureship use “biyaah geet” to categorize the songs traditionally performed at weddings. “Geet” translates to song(s) or music. “Biyaah” is the Bhojpuri term for wedding and is more common than the Hindi equivalents “vivaah” and “shaadi”. Sam Boodram, the legendary Indo-Trinidadian musician, delivers an excellent example of this genre with “Lagana Bina Kaise”. He sings “bibaah” which is another derivative for wedding. This song is perfect for the days leading up to the actual ceremony and was featured on “Chutney Hits” (2002).

Translated by Vinay Harrichan as part of the Caribbean Hindustani team:

Lagana bina kaise bibaah hoi?
How will the wedding happen without setting the auspicious date?

Bibaah hoi ho, bibaah hoi ho, kaise bhaiya?
How will the wedding happen, how will the wedding happen, how brother?

Bare bare pandit, bare bare gyaani
Esteemed priests and knowledgeable men

Sochke lagana dhare ho, arey sochke lagana dhare ho
Upon thinking they set the auspicious date, oh upon thinking they set the auspicious date

Mata pita dono aurat se aaye
Mother and father both came with the woman (bride)

Sab se bina ee kari, arey sab se bina ee kari?
Without everything how will this be done, oh without everything how will this be done?

Jhatakat patakat dulaha ke poowah
The groom’s paternal aunt got excited

Lawa kaun bhooji re, aba lawa kaun bhooji?
Who will patch the rice, now who will patch the rice?

Dulaha ke mamoo sochat puchat hai
The groom’s maternal uncle thought and asked

Imli kaun ghotai, arey imli kaun ghotai?
Who will do the mango leaf ceremony, oh who will do the mango leaf ceremony?