There are few places in Delhi where a gathering of 1,000+ motorcycles can go unnoticed. And when those motorcycles are carrying riders dressed for a wedding, complete with colourful outfits, decorated bikes and plenty of dhol beats, things really get interesting. That is exactly what happened when we turned up for Riders Ki Baraat 2.0 at Omaxe Chowk, Chandni Chowk.
The idea behind the event was simple, but also quite brilliant: take the traditional Indian baraat and give it a biker’s twist. So instead of horses and vintage cars, we had motorcycles. Instead of a conventional wedding procession, we had more than a thousand riders. And instead of heading to a wedding venue, this particular baraat made its way to Omaxe Chowk for a day of bikes, fashion, music and celebration.
The ride started at Zana Motorcycles in Naraina, with riders turning up in everything from wedding-inspired traditional attire to riding jackets. The motorcycles themselves were dressed up for the occasion as well. When the procession reached Omaxe Chowk, the sound of motorcycles was soon joined by dhol beats, cheers and music as the riders made their way into the venue. Chandni Chowk is hardly short of colour or character on any normal day, but seeing it become the backdrop for a giant motorcycle baraat was something else. And that, really, was the charm of Riders Ki Baraat.
Once everyone had arrived, there was plenty more happening. Wedding-themed games, fashion walks and dance performances kept the crowd engaged, while the DJ session provided the soundtrack for the later part of the celebration. Winners were announced during the festivities, followed by a lucky draw.
The event also brought together a mix of people from the riding, automotive and fashion communities. Celebrity jury members included Divya Sandhu, Simple Arora, Dr Arun Taneja, Deepak Gupta, better known as Mountain Man, Pooja Thapa, Siddesh Yadav and Suchitra Kaur. Special guests included Irfan Chaudhary (MCMR – My Country My Ride), Himanshi Singh and Harish from Bhumi Motors.
Fashion was a significant part of the event too, with brands including Surya, Libas, Odhni, Mohanlal Sons, White Hanger, Yeshan Sarees and Perfume Point showcasing their collections. It was an unusual combination, but it worked. There was enough of the traditional baraat to make the theme immediately recognisable, but enough of the motorcycle culture to make it feel like something of its own. And with more than 1,000 bikers coming together, the sheer scale of the gathering added to the spectacle.
Riders Ki Baraat 2.0 was powered by Zana Motorcycles, with xBhp, Castrol, Manipal Hospital, Chopra Helmets, Head Shot Energy Drink and Reise coming on board as riding and automotive partners. Bold & Beautiful and Makeover by Manveen joined as fashion partners. For us, though, the most interesting part was watching a very familiar Indian celebration take on an entirely different form.
We’ve all seen a baraat. We’ve all seen a motorcycle ride. But putting the two together and taking it through one of Delhi’s busiest and most recognisable parts made for a memorable day. Riders Ki Baraat 2.0 may have started as an idea to bring biking and Indian festivities together, but by the time the procession rolled into Omaxe Chowk, it had become something much bigger: a celebration of motorcycles, people, and the rather unique culture that surrounds both.
