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care of personalized attention (the chauffeurs knew your

wine and dine and oh so much love from the

bride and groom’s families! Like a lovely

romantic number slipping warmth into your

heart unknowingly, the wedding was a

happy warm affair with, oh, so many well

wishers coming from ends of the world

to bless the couple. Not for nothing had

Vaishali sent those emails well in ad-­

vance to ‘mark the dates’ with her quin-­

tessential affection! Each day superseded

the other in being more memorable and

fun! The mehandi and sangeet on the 25th

at 2902, Sector 37-­C, was an eventful musical

night of plenty of dancing and well, more danc-­

ing in ‘high spirits’.

I was on my way in a chugging train

when I suddenly got a call from an unknown

number. I pick it up and the person on the

other end begins,“Maddu ji, Sasriakkaal!

Aap kahaan pahoonche?” Only then did I

realize that it was the taxi driver who was

waiting for me at Chandigrah station on

the other end of the phone! That was how

this unforgettable wedding began for me!

This is the 60th Wedding I have shot

starting from Jan 2009. This is certainly

one of the few, I have waited for long. This

editorial is something, I have been waiting

to do all this long through the weddings

I have covered. Unfortunately, till now it

never got made. So this becomes the first

of its kind, ‘wedding-­tabloid’, at least my

first! Vaishali did you notice, the very first

one!

A wedding that made (even) me to

dance, naach-­naach-­naach all through;;

so much so that, heads and legs were

shaking atleast for a week after it got

over! All those 'love' took a while to dry

from the cheeks, and the hang took some-­

time to get over, (with out any aches). A

wedding, that was filled with joy and hap-­

piness. It was my honour and pleasure to

be a part of this, and to have made some-­

thing out of the the wedding through the

images. A wedding, not just where I shot

happily, but seamlessly enjoyed like any

other friend, if not more.

-­Maniyarasan R

Mehndi lagaa ke rakhna...Bollywood is our ultimate guide to ro-­

mance and perfect weddings. But

sometimes, just sometimes, life

offers you a chance to witness

one of those in real life!

The wedding of Vaishali

and Sahil was one such!

You name an aspect,

and it already adorned

the event. Hospitality

at its best (an entire top

Hotel Marc Royale with

every luxurious amenity

taken care of), personalized

attention the waiters put in all the

effort to make sure everyone is taken

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EDITOR'S NOTE

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Later that night,

the room 418 at

Chandigarh Marc

Royal turned into

an adda of con-­

versations where

old stories were

recounted and

new stories were

updated between

the friends of both

parties.

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Shot on the Nokia Lumia 710.

11

Red and yellow cloth twirled around poles and pandals,

pearly lights strung around branches, dainty large terracotta

lamps throwing light across steps and sprawling meandering

lawns dotted with tables decorated neatly with fancy lanterns

A trolley went about shooting or rather sweeping

across the crowds and capturing the proceedings in style.

Friends goofed about as the chilly wind blew across. Peo-­

ple made use of the lantern lamps to warm hands till the bar

opened! An open buffet warmed up food constantly to feed

the teeming crowds. The stage looked like a rain of lights

was falling behind the throne-­like chairs. The kids were the

-­

ers showered forth to welcome the bridegroom’s band baaja

baraat into the venue. As the DJ mixed, the night deepened,

the crowd got to their feet and the ceremonies took place in

parallel.

Glittering cloth of every colour was stretched between

two people, across the path, to mark the grand welcome for

the bride. Seven colours to paint the life ahead with. All

the girls who have been an integral part of her life-­ through

ups and downs, sobs and chuckles and who unconditionally

stood by Vaishali through the years stood on either side of

the pathway, cloth stretched between, almost like a guard of

honour to the blushing bride. As Vaishali walked in, one after

another the cloth was lifted, precisely when she walked past

to make way, in a rangoli of welcome. As photographers (pro-­

fessionals and amateurs alike) jostled one another to capture

the right moments, one couldn’t but wonder what a perfectly

beautiful bride Vaishali made! With the adornments and rich

drapes or in the simplest of clothes-­ there are not many who

can be as ravishing in one as in the other!

The wedding ceremony was at North Park overlooking

two hillocks rising together, almost like a symbol of together-­

ness forming a picturesque background! With people wanting

to show off their clothes and look good, it was the bar counter

that attracted quite a crowd that night!

After another round of dancing and frolic at the baraat, the

groom (carrying a resplendent sword) with his party, arrived

at the venue. The saalis performed their usual “Cash, Cash”

routine before letting the groom in. How much was coughed

Another quirky ritual followed where the bride’s mom

welcomed the groom by twirling his nose affectionately! The

saalis struck again, stealing the joothas and striking yet an-­

other deal-­ the only people who are happier than the bride and

groom during any wedding!

As relatives on either side exchanged welcome garlands,

the Jayamala happened in front of the entire crowd, waiting for

Shaadi ke laddoo!

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the couple’s darshan till then. The couple exchanged the gar-­

lands, and the wait was getting over little by little. As rituals

unwrapped themselves on stage, the dance and dinner set the

evening rolling. After an enjoyable meal, a hearty shake and

move, many soon began to drift back home or to catch their

the girl’s brother to make do for the smart saalis backbreak-­

ing act of sneaking off the joothas.

As the groom took position at the Mandap, the pandit

started the rituals, with the Bride’s parents. As the time came

for her entry, the bride walked in. Finally, the most awaited

wedding was about to begin! As the night deepened, only

the family and a close circle of friends remained at the man-­

in turns!

Amidst open light-­hearted digs on the Pandit, as the

hour inched towards the muhurat, the joy and excitement

was palpable. And in the wee hours of the morning, Sahil

and Vaishali were married in tradition!

As a lovely palanquin carried the beautiful bride on her

a wonderful life of togetherness ahead.

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