From Subhamoy Das,
Your Guide to Hinduism.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

Indian film’s hottest couple tied the knot in a traditional Vedic wedding ceremony on April 20, 2007. In what is regarded as the biggest Hindu wedding in Bollywood, India's reigning stars Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai exchanged nuptial vows at a colorful Hindu marriage ceremony in Bombay. Both the Bachchan and Rai families are devout Hindus, and preferred everything traditional as far as Hindu wedding rituals are concerned.

Ganesha's Gift
The groom's father Bollywood superpower Amitabh Bachchan visited the Siddhavinayak Temple in Prabhadevi, Mumbai to offer one of the first wedding cards to Lord Ganesha. On the wedding day, the trustees of the famous shrine, on behalf of Ganesha sent, his gift in the form of flowers, garlands, a traditional 'puja thali' (a platter of items used in Hindu rituals) and a piece of red cloth that can negate any troubles Mangal (Mars) or Shani (Saturn) could bring into the lives of the newly weds.

From Vindyachal to Varanasi
Priests from Varanasi conducted the rituals. The ceremony held on the auspicious day of Akshay Tritiya preceded by a Sangeet (traditional music) function and the customary Mehendi ceremony. The 'Sindoor' or vermillion, also used as bindis, for the ritual was brought from Vindyachal, UP in northern India, famous for its Durga temple.

Another Visit to the Tirupati Temple
The newly-wed couple will visit the Balaji temple in Tirupati to seek blessings before leaving for their honeymoon. The Bachchans had visited the celebrated temple of Tirupati several times before the marriage to seek the blessing of Lord Venkateshwara.

The Traditional Nuptial Dress
The groom was dressed in a gold-embroidered white sherwani with his face covered with a frill of flowers, and rode a decorated white horse with his little nephew. Aishwarya wore an ornate gold-bordered hand-embroidered red Bridal Sari.

Mehendi Ceremony
Aishwarya got henna for her mehendi ceremony from Sojat in Rajasthan. Over 15 kg of local henna were sent to Mumbai five days prior to the wedding day by the traders who had prepared a special type of mehendi for Liz Hurley's Indian wedding.

Wedding Photos
You can view the photos of the Abhi-Ash wedding at the following links:

• Screen Magazine
  
• Rediff.com Special
• Indiatimes Slideshow
• Hindustan Times Photo Galleries