Wedding season finally brings rich rewards for K-P DJs, drumbeaters

The peak wedding season has brought renewed prosperity for DJs and traditional drumbeaters across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly in Peshawar and Nowshera, where artists are enjoying fully booked schedules and rising incomes after months of slowdown. With marriage ceremonies reaching their height in the pre-spring months ahead of the holy month of Ramazan, dhol players and DJs are working overtime, cashing in on long-awaited bookings. Many artists said February schedules are already packed, reflecting a strong revival of live musical performances at weddings and social gatherings. Irshad Khan, a local DJ from Nowshera, told APP on Sunday that the recent wedding boom has revitalized his business in Peshawar and his native district. "All my bookings for February are confirmed.

This season has been very profitable for us," he said, adding that demand has surged despite the growing use of digital entertainment.

Across KP, traditional drummers locally known as dholchis continued to hold their ground, even as social media and information technology reshaped entertainment trends. The province, which has produced legendary artists such as Khyal Muhammad, Rafiq Shinwari, Firdus Jamal, Qavi Khan, Javed Babar and Yousaf Khan (Dilip Kumar), still values the cultural vibrancy of live drumbeats.

In Peshawar, drumbeaters and DJs commonly gather at Hashtnagri, Green Shadi Hall Chowk and Tehkal areas, where families approach them to hire services for weddings and engagement ceremonies especially on weekend. Similar scenes can be observed in Nowshera and adjoining districts these days. Veteran drumbeater Bhutto Ali (55) can often be found sitting near Fakhre Alam Road in Peshawar Cantonment, waiting for clients. Known respectfully as Ustad among fellow artists, he has been part of the profession for decades.

"I entered this field 25 years ago after my father fell ill," said Bhutto Ali, a dhol player from Changarabad, who comes daily to Green Shadi Hall Chowk along with fellow drummer Nawab Ali. "Those who left the profession earlier due to rising costs and terrorism have now returned after seeing the boom this season. "Despite competition from DJs, many families still prefer live drumming for its traditional charm. Sajjad Ali, a resident of Gulbahar, Peshawar, said he choose dhol players for his son's wedding instead of DJs. "Live drumbeating adds colour and energy to weddings. It's my first choice," he said. However, rising costs pose challenges for artists. Bhutto Ali explained that the price of a dhol has increased sharply. "Two years ago, a dhol with a beating plate cost around Rs24,000. Now it has jumped to Rs40,000," he said, adding that damage to instruments causes heavy financial losses for poor drummers. He said that most drumbeaters take their dhol to Lahore for repair that put extra burden on them.

Traditional skin beating plates are vulnerable to weather conditions, especially winter dampness and summer heat. "Plastic beating plates imported from abroad last longer, but they are expensive," he added. Interestingly, dhol players are increasingly being preferred over DJs at local public gatherings and political meetings due to lower costs and independence from electricity and sound systems. "I have sent two dhols for repair ahead of the spring wedding season to Lahore due to high demand," Bhutto said. "My third dhol, inherited from my elder brother, is being used at birthday parties, mehndi ceremonies, and other festive events. "Earnings vary depending on the financial status of clients. "Sometimes we earn Rs10,000, sometimes as much as Rs30,000 per program," he said, adding that a pair of professional dhol players may charge up to Rs50,000 depending on duration and occasion. Traditional and non-professional drummers are also hired from areas like Gandhara and Hayatabad Chowk, where customers seek affordable options to add a cultural touch to wedding festivities in homes and hujras. Riaz Khan, a retired civil servant who visited Green Shadi Hall Chowk to hire dhol players for his son's engagement, said live drumming was both economical and practical. "It can be performed indoors and outdoors easily and is more cost-effective than DJs," he said.

Riaz urged the KP government to support these artists, observing that terrorism and the rapid expansion of digital media had previously harmed their livelihoods. "They deserve relief and recognition for preserving our cultural heritage," he added.