Bihar’s Troubling Trend: Celebratory Gunfire and the Rise of Desi Music’s Gun Culture | Patna News – Times of India
Slug: DANGEROUS TREND
Patna: Celebratory firing, an increasingly popular yet perilous trend at weddings and other events, is becoming a nightmare for Bihar Police. Adding fuel to the fire, the desi music industry is actively promoting gun culture with songs glorifying the display and use of firearms, particularly at weddings, resonating strongly with the younger audience.
Take, for instance, the latest Magahi hit, “Leke hum baraat abau Jamui zila ke chowk par… nachey padtau chowdi tora rifle ke nokh par” (loosely translated as ‘We will bring the wedding procession to Jamui district… girl, you will have to dance with rifles held high’). The track unabashedly celebrates gun displays and wedding firing rituals. Its runaway success has sparked a trend with singers tweaking the lyrics to appeal to regional audiences, producing variations like “Leke hum baraat abau Begusarai zila ke chowk par” and “Leke hum baraat abau Khagaria zila ke chowk par.”
The song, recorded in Lakhisarai, has become a viral sensation. Within just two months, it has garnered over 25 million views on YouTube. “If you include shares across platforms, the views exceed 72 million,” claimed Kumar Singh Manish, a producer from Kiul village, who recorded and mixed the song with bullet sound effects. The track has inspired countless social media videos, amplifying its reach.
Buoyed by the song’s success, Manish, an Intermediate-pass student, now finds lyricists and singers flocking to his studio. One line of the track even mentions, “Inebriated Saurabh and Rohit would make you dance at the tip of a rifle”— a bold irony given Bihar’s liquor prohibition.
Saurabh U, a resident of Lakhisarai and co-singer of the hit song, dismisses criticism, saying the track was meant to create “a lighter mood at parties” and not to incite violence. However, its influence on normalising gun culture is hard to ignore.
“These songs are designed for instant popularity, TRP boosts and monetary gain. They undeniably promote gun culture,” Lakhisarai SP Ajay Kumar said, adding that the matter would be investigated and action would be taken under the IT Act against those responsible.
The song’s success has spawned numerous adaptations. Kanhaiya Lal Yadav’s version, “Dhad dhad goli chaltau Khagaria ke chowk par… Dhad dhad goli chaltau Saharsa ke chowk par” (The guns will boom at Khagaria and Saharsa roundabouts, girl you’ll have to dance with rifles held high), has racked up 3,37,000 views in just a month.
Another duo, Kishan Kamlesh and Michael Mithlesh, recreated the hit with regional twists. Meanwhile, Bhojpuri singer RDX Editor’s version, “Dhaiyan dhaiyan goli chaltau Deoriya ke chowk par… dhaiyan dhaiyan goli chaltau Rudalpur ke chowk par,” has amassed 1.9 million views in a single month.
Incidents of celebratory firing at weddings and other events often turn joy into mourning. However, the Bihar Police has claimed that there has been a significant reduction in such incidents in the state.
ADG (law and order), Sanjay Singh, had earlier told TOI that between June 2022 and May 2023, the number of deaths and injuries due to celebratory firing in Bihar was 58, while from June 2023 to May 2024, the number was 29. Thus, there has been a reduction of approximately 50% in the number of deaths and injuries, he said.
To curb celebratory gunfire, the Bihar Police issued orders in June 2023, directing all districts to take action in such cases. All districts were instructed to conduct annual verification of all weapon licences, weapons, licence holders and retainers in each police station area. Organisers of weddings, cultural events, orchestras and similar programs are required to inform the respective police stations in advance. Also, CCTV cameras must be installed at these venues to clearly record all activities.
(With inputs from Kshitiz)
Patna: Celebratory firing, an increasingly popular yet perilous trend at weddings and other events, is becoming a nightmare for Bihar Police. Adding fuel to the fire, the desi music industry is actively promoting gun culture with songs glorifying the display and use of firearms, particularly at weddings, resonating strongly with the younger audience.
Take, for instance, the latest Magahi hit, “Leke hum baraat abau Jamui zila ke chowk par… nachey padtau chowdi tora rifle ke nokh par” (loosely translated as ‘We will bring the wedding procession to Jamui district… girl, you will have to dance with rifles held high’). The track unabashedly celebrates gun displays and wedding firing rituals. Its runaway success has sparked a trend with singers tweaking the lyrics to appeal to regional audiences, producing variations like “Leke hum baraat abau Begusarai zila ke chowk par” and “Leke hum baraat abau Khagaria zila ke chowk par.”
The song, recorded in Lakhisarai, has become a viral sensation. Within just two months, it has garnered over 25 million views on YouTube. “If you include shares across platforms, the views exceed 72 million,” claimed Kumar Singh Manish, a producer from Kiul village, who recorded and mixed the song with bullet sound effects. The track has inspired countless social media videos, amplifying its reach.
Buoyed by the song’s success, Manish, an Intermediate-pass student, now finds lyricists and singers flocking to his studio. One line of the track even mentions, “Inebriated Saurabh and Rohit would make you dance at the tip of a rifle”— a bold irony given Bihar’s liquor prohibition.
Saurabh U, a resident of Lakhisarai and co-singer of the hit song, dismisses criticism, saying the track was meant to create “a lighter mood at parties” and not to incite violence. However, its influence on normalising gun culture is hard to ignore.
“These songs are designed for instant popularity, TRP boosts and monetary gain. They undeniably promote gun culture,” Lakhisarai SP Ajay Kumar said, adding that the matter would be investigated and action would be taken under the IT Act against those responsible.
The song’s success has spawned numerous adaptations. Kanhaiya Lal Yadav’s version, “Dhad dhad goli chaltau Khagaria ke chowk par… Dhad dhad goli chaltau Saharsa ke chowk par” (The guns will boom at Khagaria and Saharsa roundabouts, girl you’ll have to dance with rifles held high), has racked up 3,37,000 views in just a month.
Another duo, Kishan Kamlesh and Michael Mithlesh, recreated the hit with regional twists. Meanwhile, Bhojpuri singer RDX Editor’s version, “Dhaiyan dhaiyan goli chaltau Deoriya ke chowk par… dhaiyan dhaiyan goli chaltau Rudalpur ke chowk par,” has amassed 1.9 million views in a single month.
Incidents of celebratory firing at weddings and other events often turn joy into mourning. However, the Bihar Police has claimed that there has been a significant reduction in such incidents in the state.
ADG (law and order), Sanjay Singh, had earlier told TOI that between June 2022 and May 2023, the number of deaths and injuries due to celebratory firing in Bihar was 58, while from June 2023 to May 2024, the number was 29. Thus, there has been a reduction of approximately 50% in the number of deaths and injuries, he said.
To curb celebratory gunfire, the Bihar Police issued orders in June 2023, directing all districts to take action in such cases. All districts were instructed to conduct annual verification of all weapon licences, weapons, licence holders and retainers in each police station area. Organisers of weddings, cultural events, orchestras and similar programs are required to inform the respective police stations in advance. Also, CCTV cameras must be installed at these venues to clearly record all activities.
(With inputs from Kshitiz)
