“For more than six decades, these red open-top wedding cars have been part of Hyderabad’s streets.

On the Gunfoundry stretch near Abids and Nampally, they still sit under the trees, just as they have for generations. For many people passing through this part of the city, these cars are more than old vehicles. They bring back memories of a different Hyderabad, when weddings, family gatherings and celebrations had a very different feel.

My family has been in this business for decades, and for us, these cars are not just vehicles. They are connected to some of the happiest memories people have.

Over the years, we have had different kinds of cars, including Hindustan Contessas, Nissan Bluebirds, Sonatas and Hyundai Elantras, which were modified into open-top wedding cars. We also have white vintage-style wedding buggies with red interiors and chrome detailing, made to resemble old royal carriages.

There was a time when these cars were considered the grand wedding entry in Hyderabad. A groom would stand in the open-top car while his relatives and friends danced around him. The music, the baraat and the car slowly making its way through the streets were all part of the celebration.

The business was at its peak in the 1980s and 1990s. During the wedding season, sometimes a car would finish one booking and go straight to another. There was hardly any time for the cars to remain parked.

Most of our cars are painted bright red, a colour that people have long associated with weddings and celebrations. Even today, they stand out among the traffic and newer vehicles around Abids.

What makes it special is the reaction from older Hyderabadis. Many stop and tell us about their own weddings. Some remember arriving in a similar car decades ago. A few even bring their children and grandchildren and show them the cars they remember from their younger days.

For them, I think, it is not really about the car. It is about the Hyderabad they remember.

Weddings have changed over the years. Luxury sedans, SUVs and newer cars have replaced many of these traditional wedding vehicles, and several people who were once in this business have moved on.

Maintaining these old customised cars has also become more difficult and expensive.

But a few families here, including ours, chose to continue.

Every time one of these cars goes out for a wedding, it feels like a small piece of old Hyderabad is moving through the city again.

People may have more choices today, but these cars still have their own place here. They have carried grooms, families, music, dancing and celebrations through Hyderabad for generations.

And as long as someone looks at one of these cars and says, ‘I remember my wedding in one of these,’ I feel there is still a reason to keep them going.”

• Md. Raheem