One of the biggest Indian weddings of the year is taking place in Mumbai this week
Th lavish wedding will take place at Mumbai's Turf Club
The pre-wedding celebrations for one of the biggest Indian weddings this year are well underway in Mumbai. The marriage of the eldest daughter of one of India’s most prominent industrialists, Champalal Vardnan, is due to take place on Friday 21st, although the party has got into full swing ahead of the nuptials.
Vardnan’s daughter, Neelam, is due to marry Tushar Parekh. The match is an arranged marriage and Neelma’s father is said to be very happy with Tushar as he believes he will make a great son-in-law.
10 separate events have been planned to celebrate the union. A number of parties have been organised in the run-up to the big day including some unusual events like a bingo night and a DJ evening, as well as the more traditional occasions like a formal sangeet and mehendi.
The bingo night has already taken place and was a hit with the many guests as the prizes which were on offer were extremely extravagant. Those who were lucky enough to get a “full house” on the night received prizes in the form of state of the art mobile phones, luxury holidays, and even sports cars.
The wedding itself is being held at the Turf Club on Friday and is expected to be a huge occasion with somewhere in the region of 5,000 guests scheduled to attend.
Indian wedding guests hospitalised with suspected food poisoning
A suspected case of food poisoning has been reported at a wedding banquet in North India
It’s been reported that in the region of 100 people in North of India have been hospitalised with suspected food poisoning after attending a wedding banquet in the village of Bhojpur.
The occasion was held in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India’s northern district of Bijnor. The guests at the wedding were said to have contracted symptoms commonly associated with food poisoning after eating at the wedding celebrations.
100 people have been admitted to a local hospital for medical treatment, 12 of whom are said to be in a critical state.
A team of health and safety officials have descended upon the establishment in question, which has not been named, to carry out a thorough investigation. Food which was served during the wedding banquet has been taken away for testing to try and determine the source of the poisoning. The chief medical officer for the state has been drafted in to investigate the situation.
In the past establishments have been hit with hefty fines when an incident of food poisoning has been traced back to their catering.
It’s been suggested that catering for Indian weddings in the heat of summer can be a risky task as food spoils very quickly due to the soaring temperatures. Plus the added danger of flies infecting food during this time also poses another health food risk meaning catering staff must be extra vigilant to prevent incidents of food poisoning at Indian weddings.
Indian cricketer Pragyan Ojha ties the knot
Cricket star Ojha married in his home state of Orissa
Indian cricketer Pragyan Ojha tied the knot yesterday with fiancée Karabee Baral. The sports star’s family announced the news of the nuptials on Saturday before the wedding ceremony took place.
The couple met a year ago at an event in Hyderabad. Ojha’s bride is a micro-biology post graduate and both of her parents are professors teaching at the University of Hyderabad. The marriage received the blessing from both sides of the family.
The wedding took place in Ojha’s home state of Orissa, with the lavish ceremony being held at the Hotel Mayfair Lagoon Bhubaneswar. It is not known if any of Ojha’s team mates were present at the marriage. The couple had a wedding in-keeping with odiya traditions and rituals.
Earlier in the day the groom took part in a number of rituals in preparation for the wedding. It has been reported that the cricketer bathed in turmeric mixed water, and placed putty vermilion and sandal paste on his forehead.
The bride and groom chose the most auspicious day in the Hindu calendar to wed. It has been estimated that some 40,000 Hindu weddings took place in Mumbai alone on Sunday as the lucky date of Akshaya Tritya is believed to be a blessed day for couples to marry.
Indian fashion takes London by storm
Rocky S was one of the designers who graced the London catwalk
The first ever Indian Premier London Fashion week took place in the capital between May7th-12th with many top name Asian designers having the opportunity to showcase their collections on a global stage.
Bloomsbury Ballroom played host to the event which was organised by Idea Weavers and saw some 18 different catwalk show take to the runway. The catwalks were streaming with vibrant colours, intricate embroidery and detailing as the models hit the runway at the IPLFW.
Many of the collections were a celebration of East meets West design with the Indian fashion designers choosing to mix traditional elements from their culture, with cutting edge modern shapes and styles creating a stunning hybrid fashion.
Indian designers who were chosen to appear included RNA who showcased some futuristic designs in the collection, Rocky S which played up the sumptuous element of Indian clothing in its show, and Arjun Agarwal who incorporated musical symbols in his collection.
With the Indian wedding season on the horizon, the show provided an opportunity for British Asians to gain inspiration for outfits to attend upcoming marriages.
The IPLFW will return this autumn however it is hoped this taster session will have enabled some Indian designers to gain a foothold in the market in the West as a number of buyers from big name retailers were present at the show.
Demand for wedding halls ahead of Auspicious Hindu date Akshaya Tritiya
Rush on wedding halls ahead of Akshaya Tritya
Many wedding hall owners are reporting a surge in enquiries for bookings on Sunday as the auspicious date in the Hindu calendar, Akshaya Tritya, falls this year on May 16th.
Thousands of Hindu weddings are scheduled to take place on this date as traditionally it brings good luck and success, the main reason why so many couples are scrambling to tie the knot on this lucky day.
Several wedding hall owners have had to turn couples away, with many saying they were booked over a year in advance for the auspicious Hindu date. Because of the huge demand for weddings on this day, some owners are considering putting up their rates for Akshaya Tritya in 2011 in order to make the most out of this lucrative period in the Hindu wedding season.
Jewellery retailers are also hopeful Akshaya Tritya will spell good news for them. Because of the sky-high prices of gold we are currently experiencing, some jewellery retailers are reporting that their sales have halved when compared to last year. Many have their finger crossed for a last-minute rush on wedding jewellery ahead of the auspicious Hindu date as there won’t be another sacred date until November, hence the rush to wed this May.
21 Sikh couples tie the knot in mass marriage ceremony
A mass Sikh wedding was held to enable 21 couples from poor backgrounds to marry
For 21 Sikh couples it was the day that they had always dreamed of, but never thought possible. Thanks to the Prabhandak committee, Gurudwara Saheb Barambala, Sikh Chawniat, Kishanbagh, Hyderabad, the couples were able to celebrate their union in style.
The mass marriage ceremony, or Samuhik Vivaha, was organised to allow the poorest Sikh couples living in Andhra Pradesh to have a wedding day with all of the trappings of a lavish Sikh ceremony, without it costing them a penny. The cost of a traditional Sikh marriage ceremony is simply beyond many couples which is why the mass wedding was held.
The day started with a colourful Baraat, which saw all of the bridegrooms arrive on horseback marking the beginning of proceedings. At 11am the brides joined their husbands-to-be for the marriage service known as Sagai. Later at 7pm Lawn Phere, or the solemnising of the marriage, took place.
The occasion was made extra special with the presence of several government officials, plus some 25,000 people travelled from different parts of India to come and bless the 21 newlyweds.
In order to help the new husbands and wives as they embark on married life, the Minorities Welfare Department gifted each couple with Rs 15,000 worth of household articles.
All 21 Sikh couples extended their sincere thanks to everyone who made their special day possible.
Top Asian bridal designer attends Mumbai wedding fair to offer advice
Vikram Phadnis's bridal collection was on display at the wedding show on Sunday
Top fashion designer Vikram Phadnis was in attendance at last weekend’s wedding fair at J.W Marriott Hotel in Juhu, Mumbai. Phadnis’s bridal collection was showcased at the event and the designer himself was on hand to offer Indian brides-to-be advice on choosing their bridal outfits.
As a former choreographer, fashion designer Vikram is well connected in the world of celebrity and has dressed some of the biggest stars from the movie and music industry. Not surprisingly, Vikram says he is always being asked to re-create these looks for private clients as the fashion of women in the public eye tends to shape what the other women in India want to wear.
This also follows through into bridal attire, however the designer warns against choosing a style you’ve seen your favourite celebrity in, and to instead choose an outfit which suits your own shape.
Vikram Phadnis says that it is often a case of balancing different outfits for the modern Asian bride as many choose to wear a glamorous show-stopping outfit for their cocktails and sangeet, and opt for a traditional classic look for the actual wedding ceremony itself.
One of the event organisers at Juhu’s Marriott Hotel said that this is the third time they’ve held the show and visitor number are increasing every year. As well as Vikram Phadnis’s bridal range, wedding planners, wedding catering specialists, and mandap designers were present at the show to assist brides and groom-to-be in their quest to plan the perfect wedding day.
Elite jewellery association launches Great Indian Wedding Carnival
Customers will receive free gifts as part of the jewellery promotion
Leading Jewellers of the World (LJOTW) which showcases 100 of the world’s leading jewellery designers has launched the Great Indian Wedding Carnival to coincide with the beginning of the Asian wedding season and also the auspicious date in the Hindu calendar, Akshaya Tritiya.
A similar event was held between April and May last year and proved such as success that LJOTW decided to do it all over again in 2010.
The Indian arm of LJOTW is launching the exclusive event. The association boasts only the elite jewellers amongst its members such as Gili, Nakshatra, Asmi & D. Damas, and Sangini.
As part of the Great Indian Wedding Carnival each customer who spends Rs 5,000 on more at one of the jewellers who are accredited as part of LJOTW, will receive a free item of jewellery. The free item which the customer receives is determined by a scratch card. A range of fantastic giveaways are available including ruby and diamond earrings, pearl necklaces, solitaire diamonds and even a luxury holiday.
With the Indian wedding season coming upon us, sales of jewellery are soaring. The Carnival will offer customers the opportunity to purchase items of jewellery of exquisite quality, while at the same time receiving a great value for money through the exclusive promotion.
Elite jewellery association launches Great Indian Wedding Carnival
Customers will receive free gifts as part of the jewellery promotion
Leading Jewellers of the World (LJOTW) which showcases 100 of the world’s leading jewellery designers has launched the Great Indian Wedding Carnival to coincide with the beginning of the Asian wedding season and also the auspicious date in the Hindu calendar, Akshaya Tritiya.
A similar event was held between April and May last year and proved such as success that LJOTW decided to do it all over again in 2010.
The Indian arm of LJOTW is launching the exclusive event. The association boasts only the elite jewellers amongst its members such as Gili, Nakshatra, Asmi & D. Damas, and Sangini.
As part of the Great Indian Wedding Carnival each customer who spends Rs 5,000 on more at one of the jewellers who are accredited as part of LJOTW, will receive a free item of jewellery. The free item which the customer receives is determined by a scratch card. A range of fantastic giveaways are available including ruby and diamond earrings, pearl necklaces, solitaire diamonds and even a luxury holiday.
With the Indian wedding season coming upon us, sales of jewellery are soaring. The Carnival will offer customers the opportunity to purchase items of jewellery of exquisite quality, while at the same time receiving a great value for money through the exclusive promotion.
Elite jewellery association launches Great Indian Wedding Carnival
Customers will receive free gifts as part of the jewellery promotion
Leading Jewellers of the World (LJOTW) which showcases 100 of the world’s leading jewellery designers has launched the Great Indian Wedding Carnival to coincide with the beginning of the Asian wedding season and also the auspicious date in the Hindu calendar, Akshaya Tritiya.
A similar event was held between April and May last year and proved such as success that LJOTW decided to do it all over again in 2010.
The Indian arm of LJOTW is launching the exclusive event. The association boasts only the elite jewellers amongst its members such as Gili, Nakshatra, Asmi & D. Damas, and Sangini.
As part of the Great Indian Wedding Carnival each customer who spends Rs 5,000 on more at one of the jewellers who are accredited as part of LJOTW, will receive a free item of jewellery. The free item which the customer receives is determined by a scratch card. A range of fantastic giveaways are available including ruby and diamond earrings, pearl necklaces, solitaire diamonds and even a luxury holiday.
With the Indian wedding season coming upon us, sales of jewellery are soaring. The Carnival will offer customers the opportunity to purchase items of jewellery of exquisite quality, while at the same time receiving a great value for money through the exclusive promotion.
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