A royal welcome with a Bollywood twist
The Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Pipe Band created a stir by playing the Bollywood hit Dhoom Machale to welcome King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the Commonwealth Day ceremony at Westminster Abbey on March 10. A video of the performance quickly went viral on social media, sparking excitement and amusement among viewers.
A cross-cultural moment at Westminster Abbey. The British Royal Family, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Anne, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, were present for the annual event. The band’s choice of music, blending traditional Scottish pipe tunes with a popular Bollywood track, created a memorable cross-cultural moment that resonated with audiences worldwide.
Band’s history and reaction on social media
The Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Pipe Band, based at Shree Swaminarayan Mandir in Kingsbury, North-West London, shared the video on Instagram, calling it “a truly unforgettable moment celebrating unity, heritage, and culture.” The band has a long history of performing for royalty, but this unique fusion of Indian and Scottish traditions stood out as a special highlight. Their ability to seamlessly combine two distinct musical styles showcased the universal power of music.
Social media buzz and humorous reactions
Social media users quickly joined the conversation with light-hearted comments. Some referenced the Bollywood film Dhoom 2, where Hrithik Roshan plays a master thief. One user joked, “That’s Hrithik Roshan disguised as Camilla,” while another saying “I think Dhoom 4 movie promotion happened there.” Another user humorously stated, “This is the crossover we didn’t know we needed!” Comments poured in, praising the band’s creativity and cultural blending.
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Cultural impact and praise
According to the band’s official website, the Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Pipe Band is part of the Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan, a religious organization based in Ahmedabad, India. The performance was praised for blending cultural heritage with contemporary pop culture, highlighting the power of music to bring diverse communities together. The band’s ability to merge two distinct cultural styles into one harmonious performance was widely applauded.
