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Sangeet
25th October 2012
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  ÀRRU RI WKH &KDQGLJDUK 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
EDITOR'S NOTE  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?â€?  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-Âtabloid’,  at  least  my  first!  Vaishali  did  you  notice,  the  very  first  one!  A  wedding  that  made  (even)  me  to  dance,  naach-Ânaach-Ânaach  all  through;Íž  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.    -ÂManiyarasan  R
care  of  personalized  attention  (the  chauffeurs  knew  your  SHW QDPH DQG JDYH \RX ORYLQJ ZDNH XS FDOOV ÂżQH 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-ÂC,  was  an  eventful  musical  night  of  plenty  of  dancing  and  well,  more  danc- ing  in  ‘high  spirits’.
25th October 2012
Sangeet
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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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Cocktail
26th October 2012
26th October 2012
Engagement
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Cocktail
26th October 2012
26th October 2012
Engagement
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27th October 2012
27th October 2012
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Haldi
27th October 2012
27th October 2012
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Shot on the Nokia Lumia 710.
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27th October 2012
Shaadi ke laddoo! 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  DQG Ă€RZHUV WKH ZHGGLQJ YHQXH ZDV GHFNHG XS MXVW JUDQG  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-Âlike  chairs.  The  kids  were  the  RQHV WR WDNH WR WKH GDQFH Ă€RRU ÂżUVW IDVFLQDWHG E\ Âľ&KDPDN &KDOORÂś DQG WKH FKDPDN LQJ GLVFR OLJKWV &UDFNHUV DQG Ă€RZ- 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 Â
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,  Cashâ€?  routine  before  letting  the  groom  in.  How  much  was  coughed  XS LV D ÂżJXUH ZHÂśG OHDYH WR WKH LPDJLQDWLRQ RI WKH UHDGHU 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 Â
27th October 2012
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27th October 2012
27th October 2012
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  WUDLQV DQG Ă€LJKWV 7KH JURRP ZDV FDUULHG WR WKH PDQGDS E\ 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- GDS ÂżJKWLQJ KDUG WR VWD\ DZDNH HDFK ZDNLQJ WKH RWKHU XS in  turns!  Amidst  open  light-Âhearted  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  ELGDDL KDSS\ WHDUV Ă€RZHG WR FHOHEUDWH DQG EOHVV WKH FRXSOH a  wonderful  life  of  togetherness  ahead.                                             Â
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