Showcase of the Chandigarh Nightlife

‘Don’t criticise, accept the change’

It is true that the lifestyle in the city has changed but it continues to be criticised unnecessarily by critics who are in no way linked with the changing global scenario that has had a definite impact on minds of the youth, particularly in Chandigarh.
In fact most of the seniors and critics, I know will have nothing to speak in favour of the growing nightlife culture in the city. The typical expression will be one of disdain for the youngsters. This is what has provoked me to respond. There will be letters by the critics and a newspaper reader might be forced to believe that a majority of the society members are against the dance bar culture.
The truth of the day is that that times have changed and Chandigarh is a flag bearer to the societal change in the entire country, more particularly in the region. Now, the youngsters have got an option of spending their evening in a free environment than that of our elders. The outlook of the youngsters has changed in context of the changed exposure they have today.
My dad talks about the fun he and his friends had in their hostels, which included drinking, dining and even spending good times with members of the opposite sex when they were in college and university. There was no objectionable activity in the exercise. The city had stag parties and many other avenues of private parties even during their times in the late 80s. He tells me that only the style of exhibiting the choice by youngsters has changed. Earlier, such parties were restricted to closed corners and now they have gone public. I feel our elders need to be friends to their children while they were growing up and accept the change with times. We don’t need counselling, we need sharing of our emotions.
— Pankaj Sharma, Sector 48, Chandigarh.

‘Issue needs to be deliberated upon’

Three Ws (wine, women, waltz) create the fourth W (wolf out of man) wine, women and waltz (dance ‘n’ music) make for a heady mixture. These three together, more often than not, bring out the wolf (bad elements) in a man. Notwithstanding the negatives, man thrives in doing the taboo!
Abroad, the trend started in the late 1970s in major US cities like San Francisco, Miami and New York City had thriving disco club scenes. The scene was centered on discotheques, nightclubs, and private loft parties. Some of the most prestigious clubs had elaborate lighting systems that throbbed to the beat of the music. In addition to the dance and fashion aspects of the disco-club scene, there was also a thriving drug sub-culture, particularly for drugs that would enhance the experience of dancing to the loud music and the flashing lights.
After the crackdown on hardcore drugs, these were replaced by alcoholic preparations. This led to the dance floor becoming the central arena of seduction, ending up in rampant promiscuity outside the arena. Indians, being faithful followers of the West, adopted the trend, beginning with the metros. Chandigarh, with its cosmopolitan culture, soon got caught up in the vortex. It is not wrongly argued that loud music has a seductive and destructive effect.
“Music makes me forget my real situation. It transports me into a state which is not my own. Under the influence of music I really seem to feel what I do not understand, to have powers which I cannot have”, Leo Tolstoy had said in 1890. Loud music is often experienced as “exciting” because loudness represents intense activity. The phrase “altered state of consciousness” is generally a negative concept that is associated with drugs, tobacco, and alcohol but music also serves as a means for changing our emotional state, be it relaxation, excitation or arousal.
Loud music can enhance neurological attentiveness, which psychologists call arousal. With female entry free and couple entries free upto a particular time, the majority of girls at a disc are from PGs and B-grade dance troupes. Boys team up with such girls to gain a legitimate entry as a “couple”. “committed couples” are seldom there, but “contract couples” are dime-a-dozen. The contract is that the boy pays for his partner’s (and her friends) food and drinks in return for a good time and his scoring “brownie” points!
In such a vitiated atmosphere, one spark is enough to start a fire!! The issue needs serious deliberation even if we ultimately flow with the times.
— Pankaj Chandgothia, Sector 7, Panchkula.

‘Parties are here to stay, just beef up security’

I have been visiting a dance bar in Sector 26, very frequently, for the past more than a year along with my friends. Till date, none of the girls who accompany our group have faced any unruly situation. In a couple of instances just snide remarks were passed but nothing major happened. Such incidents are rare.
There were times when we felt uncomfortable when certain group of boys who were drunk acted in a rowdy manner. This part can be handled well if dance bars employ more security personnel. When we pay such astronomical amounts for our entry inside, the dance bar owners should spend enough money on security of the bars. Even if the administration enforces closure of the dance bars, the youngsters will still organise parties, independently. In short, parties are here to stay.
— Shalini Lamba, Sector 21, Chandigarh

‘Outing till late at night, not right’

Accidents and incidence of violence are rising with the disco culture becoming a part and parcel of the city life. On weekend such incidents occur as discotheques and bars are open up to 2 am. Even if these places are allowed to operate, the administration needs to ensure that residents’ outing hours do not exceed 12 ‘o’ clock midnight.
The city, which is known for its education standards, is fast loosing its reputation because of the late closure hours. There is definitely a flaw in the policy of the Chandigarh Adminsitration, especially the tourism policy. On one side, the police is working hard against drunk driving but on the other, the late closure timings of the bars and discotheque are promoting drunk driving at late hours, thus giving rise to accidents and incidents of violence. If the timings are not changed, then the peaceful life and education set up will definitely be affected.
— Advocate Ajay Jagga, president, Janata Party

‘Late night lifestyle a sign of progressive society’

Chandigarh Tribune has done a very timely piece in "Where nightlife is lifeline of youth" on September 27. No one can deny the fact that Chandigarh is fast acquiring the status of a "centre of night clubs and bars". Till a few years ago, Chandigarh used to have empty roads and streets as soon as the night fell. But these days with the advent of mobiles, television and the Internet, the lifestyle of the people in the city has undergone a drastic change.Night clubs and late night parties in restaurants with bars is fast becoming the culture of the City Beautiful. The youth of the day is certainly becoming more advanced. Especially, the weekend parties and boozing out with friends, old and new, is fast becoming popular among the youth. Apart from providing enjoyment, the new late night culture is also showing the other side of the coin. Brawls and violence are often in the news due to such lifestyle. Only the other day the city witnessed murderous attack on people celebrating birthday at a discotheque in Sector 26 where swords and other weapons were used and many suffered grave injuries. The police should be more vigilant at nights. Night patrolling of the city streets by the Chandigarh Police is almost absent. On the whole, the new late night lifestyle of the city is an indication of the advancement of the youth culture. It is a welcome sign of a progressive society
— R K Kapoor, Chandigarh

Keep check on drunk driving!

Both, the police and dance bar owners should be vigilant and responsible. We need bouncers who understand that they are there to restrain the party poopers and not harass those enjoying the party. Anybody who is drunk shouldn’t drive and the police should keep a check in all seriousness.
— Ranjeet Gresham Street, London
Source:TNS