Ballia (UP): In a small town in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, young men are impressing everyone with their drones at weddings. One of them is 20-year-old Sumit Kumar, who has quickly become popular for flying drones. He started out helping photographers but saw a chance to use drones for capturing amazing aerial photos of weddings.
Sumit’s tricks are making weddings extra special. He not only takes beautiful pictures but also delivers garlands to the couple using his drone. At a recent village wedding, guests were amazed when sumit flew his drone over a lotus-shaped stage to drop garlands for the bride and groom. The crowd erupted in cheers as the groom took the garland from the drone and put it around the bride’s neck. It was such a magical moment that many guests grabbed their phones to record it.
Sumit has a friend who helps him carry the drone on a motorcycle to different wedding events in Ballia and nearby areas. Drones have become a hot trend in local weddings, and Sumit charges between Rs 8,000 and Rs 40,000 for his services, depending on how long he works at the event.
Awdhesh Singh, who sells drones, says more people in rural areas are noticing how fun drones can make weddings. They give stunning photos and create excitement, all while costing less than hiring dancers.
During the quiet times of the year, Sumit and other drone pilots, like Pushkar Kumar, also take jobs for festivals and political events. However, weddings are still their best work, attracting clients from nearby towns and cities like Varanasi.
Pushkar enjoys working in villages because it’s easier to get permission to fly the drones there, and people are really excited to see them. He dreams of making drone flying his full-time job and hopes that government programs to support rural women with agricultural drones will also help drone photographers like him.
Experts say these programs are about tapping into the growing love for drones among young people. India’s drone market is predicted to jump from USD 2.71 billion in 2022 to USD 13 billion by 2030.
Sumit, who learned to fly drones for Rs 15,000 at a school in Delhi, believes drones can do much more than just take photos. He thinks there’s a bright future ahead for drones and plans to start his own drone training school in Varanasi.
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