Indian couple’s lavish baraat halts New York traffic; Internet calls it 'uncivilized behavior'

A vibrant Indian wedding procession on New York City’s iconic Fifth Avenue has gone viral on social media, drawing widespread attention and sparking debate online. The video captures a high-energy baraat that temporarily transformed one of the world’s busiest luxury avenues into a colourful celebration filled with music, dance, and festivity.

The procession, led by bride Pankti Doshi, a genetic counsellor, and groom Dr Avish Jain, a medical journalist and professional singer, stood out for its unconventional style. Instead of a traditional wedding entry, the couple turned their baraat into a live musical performance, singing Bollywood chartbusters from an open vehicle as guests danced along the street in traditional Indian attire.

Live singing Baraat turns heads in Manhattan

Unlike conventional baraats that rely on DJs or live bands, both the bride and groom performed live during the procession. The groom reportedly took the lead on vocals while the couple sang together, engaging with the crowd as they moved through the street.

The spectacle, captured and shared by wedding content creator Amrish Patel, quickly gained traction online. The video was captioned: "When the bride & groom shut down 5th Avenue and live-sing their way into their Baraat and Wedding," and has since circulated widely across social media platforms.

Planning, permits and city coordination

While the video presents a spontaneous celebration, such large-scale public events in New York City typically require extensive planning and official approvals. Closing a major thoroughfare like Fifth Avenue involves coordination with city authorities and law enforcement agencies, including the NYPD, along with multiple permits.

Fifth Avenue, one of Manhattan’s most prominent streets stretching from Greenwich Village to Harlem, is known globally for its luxury shopping destinations, including high-end brands such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Gucci, and Cartier.

Social media reactions

The viral video has triggered mixed reactions online. Many users praised the couple’s creativity, energy, and cultural expression, describing the event as joyful and memorable. Others, however, questioned the disruption caused in one of the busiest commercial and tourist corridors in the world.

This is not the first instance of an Indian wedding procession gaining attention in New York. Last year, a similar baraat involving nearly 400 participants went viral after it was seen dancing through Lower Manhattan, briefly turning parts of the financial district into a wedding celebration. 

As the video continued to circulate widely, it triggered mixed reactions online. Many users praised the couple’s creativity, confidence and vibrant cultural expression, calling the celebration joyful and unique. Others, however, questioned the disruption caused in one of New York’s busiest commercial and tourist corridors.

The viral moment also revived memories of a similar incident last year, when a large Indian baraat of nearly 400 people danced through Lower Manhattan, briefly turning parts of the financial district into a wedding celebration.

The spectacle has once again sparked debate on social media over cultural celebrations in public spaces outside India. While some users defended the event as a proud expression of tradition, others criticised it as disruptive in a densely populated global city.

Reactions on X reflected this divide, with one user stating, “Events like this reinforce the perception in Western countries that the Indian community is not sensitive to public rules.”

Another commented, “Got the necessary paperwork and permissions. Paid from pocket what seems to be the problem. How is this different than shutting down the same street for a movie shooting.”

Others were more critical, with one post reading, “The entitlement is next level. This isn't your village back home. This is why locals are getting fed up,” while another said, “Why create all this nonsense? If you want to celebrate like this do it in India why bring this kind of uncivilized behavior to a foreign country?”

A harsher reaction read, “Cheap behaviour, no amount of money can buy elegance to the mentally poor people.”

Indian wedding processions taking over parts of New York City have become a recurring viral phenomenon in recent years, often showcasing elaborate celebrations blending cultural traditions with global urban backdrops.