Namirshita
A WEDDING FAIRY TALE
IT'S A YES! TEAM BRIDE TEAM GROOM WEDDING DESTINATION BEHIND THE SCENES Event Managed by
THE DREAM TEAM WEDDING RITUALS
A N D H O S P I TA L I T Y I N D I A P V T LT D
THE WEDDING EXTRAVAGANZA
Namit & Harshita T'was not a love at first sight, So their paths were crossed again; This time the siblings played cupid, To have this blissful end!
The Agarwals and the Goels welcome you aboard on this wedding journey!
Contents 02 It’s a Yes!
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Team Bride
Team Groom
The Beauty of Marriage
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The Destination Wedding
Behind the Scene
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Smile Please!
The Heritage of Traditions
Khaana Khazana
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Atithi Devo Bhavah
The Memories
Mann Ki Baat
A N D H O S P I TA L I T Y I N D I A P V T LT D
The Dream Team
It 's a Yes! Rewind to 2008. Harshita Goel and Ruchika Agarwal met as classmates and grew up to become best friends. Such good friends that both the families started getting to know each other a lot more. Ruchika always used to talk to Akshat & Harshita about how her brother is so caring about her and their mom. Akshat kept thinking that if he is such a good person, he would be the best match for his sister and being an Agarwal Marwari family, everything falls right in place! When he mustered up the courage and shared his thoughts with Ruchika, she happily added that they should take this forward, so that she gets to keep her best friend and also bring her home with her! So Akshat and Ruchika brainwashed Namit and Harshita to make them agree to meet. The universe inspired and the families conspired. After much inhibitions and hesitations, they were successful in making them agree to meet each other as prospective partners. In the first meeting, they hardly talked. But their first dinner date was a hit! And that very first dinner date with good wine & great food did its magic! With lots of talking, giggling and laughter, our bride and groom hit it off! On 10th of January, 2015, Namit went down on his knees, pulled out a stunning ring and asked the pretty lady to marry him! Well, it was a Yes, of course! And it’s been the 10 best months of their lives since then till date!
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Team Groom
The Agarwals The Agarwal family is a combination of a modern family with strong belief in traditional values. Overall a large family, they believe in cultural values, strong family bonding and entrepreneurial strength. Shri Manmohanji Agarwal is a successful distributor of JSW Steel and his strength is his better half Smt Megha Agarwal. She is the strength of the family, an ideal wife and an ideal mother. Manmohan Agarwal “We all have been waiting for this day since a very long time and it has finally arrived. It is a matter of great jubilation to all of us as this is the first wedding of the next generation in our family. Embracing the Goels is a
Team Bride
matter of deep pleasure for us. Like us, they too believe in the same values
The Goels
and culture which have made our bonds stronger.” Megha Agarwal The family’s patriarch Shri Kamal Goel is an entrepreneur who has ensured that his loving family is nurtured with cultural values and modern outlook. His thought of a close knit family extends to the Goel Imports and Exports business too. Smt. Ritu Goel, Kamalji’s better half is a dynamic lady who supports him in all his endeavours and shares his ideals. Kamal Goel “The Agarwals are like an extended family to us and I & Manmohanji share a great friendship between us. Sharing the same family values and culture, this family is perfect for my daughter and we look forward to have a memorable wedding.”
"I am delighted with this wedding and my joy doubles because Namit is very happy. This occasion has brought so much happiness in the family and the opportunity to be together with all near and dear ones. Harshita is very affectionate and just like a daughter to me and she is the perfect match. The Goels are our friends and it is like one big family now!” Ruchika Agarwal "It’s a double celebration for me because my best friend and my brother are getting married! I am happy that I could become a part of the couple’s coming together and it is sheer pleasure to have this 3-day wedding gala on a grand scale!”
Ritu Goel “This is an emotional moment for me like every mother whose daughter is getting married, but I am glad that Harshita is going to a family which we know so well that it feels like they are just extended family. The families have bonded so well that it feels like now we have four kids in the family.” Akshat Goel “I and Harshita share a strong bond though we put very little in words. I shall miss her but I am very happy as my wishes for her have come true. The Agarwal family is a great family and I share a great rapport with Namit. More than any of us, this wedding gala is a dream project of Namit’s & Harshita’s fathers and it is destined to be a memorable one!”
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Harshita’s
Family
The Institution of Marriage
The Beauty of Togetherness Marriage is a beautiful thing. A union of two souls, a bond of two families and the beginning of a new generation. For both the families, the belief in institution of marriage is deeply entrenched and they cherish their bonds and strengthen it with every passing day. As the bride’s mother, Ritu Goel puts it, “One needs to get married because it is a lifelong lesson of commitment and attachment. Marriage develops a caring and sharing nature and it teaches you to live with others. It makes you think about another family, adapt to them and make them your own. Marriages are important.” The bride Harshita wants to emulate whatever she has witnessed while growing up, “Marriage for me is my parents and seeing them, it feels good and ingrains in me a faith and belief in the whole institution of marriage.” Adding up she says, “It’s so good to have someone around for you to share everything,
Namit’s
Family
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support you, and take care of you when you are sick and all. I picture my future like my parent’s life.” Akshat adds to it saying,”It is a format of life and everyone has to abide by it. It’s good to get married!” This wedding would be a celebration of cultural values walking hand in hand with a contemporary youthful approach; in mind and in spirit.
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Behind the Scenes Event Managed by A N D H O S P I TA L I T Y I N D I A P V T LT D
A mega event needs the right kind of people behind it to make it successful. A leader is as good as his team; and unless the vision is not shared by everybody, the frequency and wavelength does not match. If passion is the ingredient, the team needs to have fire in the belly. And Red Events Pvt. Ltd. is the best choice one could make when we have a Big Fat Indian Wedding in mind. These event managers have their management systems in place and what’s impressive is that Red Events is driven by an aggressive bunch of people who understand this business inside out, are thoroughly experienced and who know where to draw the line when it comes to getting involved and staying away.
Destination Wedding
Grand Hyatt, Goa The Agarwals and the Goels wanted a holiday destination beach wedding which was majestic and lavish, preferably by the sea and combined with
Red Events is the most popular events and wedding planning & management companies in India. Be it high power corporate events or weddings of the crème de la crème Indians from across the world, Red Events have been there & done that! Additionally, Red Events India Pvt. Ltd. is appointed as the official wedding planner by Macau Tourism, Malaysia Tourism and Thailand Tourism for managing Indian weddings in their respective countries. Many of their wedding events have been featured in prestigious publications and aired on NDTV. 600 big, fat weddings over 15 years is no mean feat and this just proves that Red Events are the Masters of their craft. Amit Rishi - Director "The entire journey of this event has been a great experience for me and my team. best part is they gave freedom of experimentation. We have been very enthusiastic about this valuable project and it is a matter of pride to be associated with The Agarwal and Goel family.”
stylish and grand reception as this was the first wedding in both the families. What could be better than having the sea breeze as guests, the glory of a vivid sunset as the backdrop, the sand under the feet and the soft swish of waves as they break against the shore? The occasion of “dream wedding by the sea.” The venue — Grand Hyatt Goa. Everything here is as the name suggests - grand, opulent, extravagant and ultra luxe. From the moment of arrival at Grand Hyatt Goa, you will know you are somewhere special. Redefining luxury in the heart of Goa, Grand Hyatt Goa overlooks the visually spectacular waters of Bambolim Bay. Spread across 28 acres of colourful, tropical gardens and lush lawns that roll down to the water’s edge, it offers panoramic views of stunning waters of Bambolim
Atul Patel - Director "This wedding was a very different experience from what we have done over the years. The hosts – the Agarwal and Goel families have been a great support and great clients. They have trusted us and we have toiled effortlessly to exceed their expectations. It has been a great experience to be a part of this wedding for the team.” Anil Girdhar - Director "Red Events has been in the destination wedding industry since almost a decade but this wedding was a different and unique experience. The hosts were so supportive that we enjoyed working with the families. It has been a wonderful experience to plan and manage the quintessential Marwari wedding with a contemporary approach."
Bay and landscaped gardens are aptly designed for a leisure. The Grand Hyatt Goa spells romance, whether it’s within the precincts of the majestic 17th century Indo-Portuguese palace or on the waterfront. The magnificence of the big fat wedding tradition becomes a reality with Grand Hyatt Goa. 5Namit & Harshita celebrate their love with the ultimate romantic beach wedding. Sipping champagne as the sun sets over the sparkling ocean
Manali Soni - Wedding Co-ordinator “This wedding experience has been quite different from the rest. The team did its groundwork for 6 months and 4-5 recces in Jaipur and Goa before finalising on the venue. The clients wanted one premise for all their guests to enjoy the true sense of togetherness and a quintessential Marwari wedding needs the best food which we could get with Grand Hyatt’s amazingly experienced team. We have taken care of minute details which has been appreciated by clients and guests as well.”
and, after the rites of passage, slipping away with your loved ones for some barefoot-on-the sands time together, Grand Hyatt is the perfect idyllic choice. 07
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The Wedding Story The brain-child of Mumbai-based photographer and cinematographer Harpreet Bachher, THE WEDDING STORY is one of the best wedding film teams in the business. They create well-scripted, breath taking and stunningly beautiful film that documents every tear and laughter at those special days. They surprise with a dreamy, heart-warming wedding story that has captured every blink-and-youmiss-it emotion onto film for eternity. The Wedding Story filmed the Namit + Harshita wedding and the result is just breathtakingly beautiful! Sometimes, fairy tales are more than true. Sometimes, a whole cortège of events inundated with magical incidents and unforeseen meetings comes your way. Harshita stumbled across her Prince Charming serendipitously and Bippity-Boppity-Boo, he is everything she had ever hoped he would be. When all the power of the stars unite, one gets a love story as shimmery as this. Here, The Wedding Story of Namit & Harshita reinforces your belief in the magic of love, ever so powerful, ever so intoxicating... The world is brimming with love and laughter, and The Wedding Story has created this magic, captured a melange of emotions and showcased in just a few minutes of time.
Luxe Decor by
Gurleen M. Puri
Gurleen M Puri, the stalwart of Indian wedding industry has once again swished her magic wand and turned the Grand Hyatt into an enchanted paradise with her décor. For over two decades, Gurleen Puri has brought great ideas to the world of Wedding and Event Décor. She has an innate talent for transforming spaces by designing installations that infuse the modern and the natural with Indian culture. Gurleen creates a diverse spectrum of events that are larger than life, but are subtle; have a distinct sense of class, but are bold; and that are traditional, yet contemporary. Her décor renders breath-taking wedding destinations and adds an unparalleled charm and panache to the wedding venues.
Bespoke Invites by
Ravish Kapoor
The beautiful wedding stationery for Namit & Harshita’s wedding is designed by none other than Ravish Kapoor. The design reflects the couple’s taste and it exudes classic charisma. Ravish Kapoor is a renowned name in the Indian designer invitations industry. His innovative invitations spell ‘elegance' and 'style'. His wedding invitations are the first expression of the grandeur and elegance of the upcoming affair. The innovatively-designed, personalised cards can add a touch of warmth and style to any and every occasion. A pioneer in designing out-of-the-box invitations, he has ushered in a new trend of personalised, exquisite invitations that makes everybody go WOW! In doing so, Ravish Kapoor has given the perennial invitation card the forever-eluding importance it so well deserves.
The Dream Team Makeup NAMRATA SONI - The Midas Touch Namrata Soni, the award-winning celebrity makeup artist, has been roped in to wedding extravaganza for her exceptional and unique makeup style that has reached audiences, from magazine covers to feature films and Ad films. The Bollywood make – up artist Namrata has been featured in world’s top publications and has received the prestigious International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) award.As a young artist, Namrata has a commitment to going beyond the traditional. Namrata’s approach to style is simple: “I’m all about using the right products in the right places to highlight a person’s best features and natural beauty.”
TAMANNA ROOZ - Makeup Maestro No one else but Tamanna F Rooz, a well-known make-up and hair expert from Hyderabad, is the perfect choice for Harshita to make her look like the princess that she is, on the big day of her life. Tamanna has gained experience over the years working in the advertisement industry, visual media and with MNC’s. She has accomplished her dream of being part of the fascinating world of art, beauty and fashion, via a medium closest to her heart – Makeup. Her passion for makeup translates into adeptness in the field; her skills are eclectic, yet equally echoing her need for perfection. 09
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HARSHDEEP KAUR - Sufi Ki Sultana
The Designers
Famously known as the voice of ‘Ik Onkar’ in RDB, the songstress Harshdeep Kaur is a singing sensation who has rocked the music world with her powerful and magical voice. Harshdeep Kaur is an Indian playback singer known for her Sufi songs. She is the first female to win two reality show titles and she established herself as a lead singer in Bollywood soundtracks. She has been mentored by Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and was declared the Sufi Ki Sultana by Amitabh Bachchan.
Who Wears What: Bride - Manish Malhotra
PREETY BHALLA - Versatile Artist
Groom - Gabbana
Preety Bhalla is a versatile playback singer whose forte is Indipop and Bollywood. She has been trained since early childhood and has been mentored by well-known singers. She was invited for the Mehndi function and her gig was very entertaining. As she is versatile in many languages, she made the function all the more lively with regional folk songs and favourites of both the families.
When: Sufi night
RAVIKANT SHARMA Choreographer Ravikant Sharma, the founder of Ravi Dance Company, conceptualises and organises Family Sangeets and makes it a larger-than-life affair. With creative themes and life size props we ensure the grandness of the function, which makes them the favorite and preferred choice of families and wedding planners. In this wedding, Ravikant has kept fun songs for the family and used laser and pyro techniques to add that ‘wow’ factor to the family sangeet!
with unparalleled craftsmanship. The persona of Madsam Tinzin garments meet international sensibility yet essentially are Indian.
Gabbana Gabbana is an Italian brand from Milan, which is an entrylevel fashion house known as Dolce&Gabbana. A premium brand in international fashion, it specialises in luxury items influenced more by designers and is more formal and 'timeless', responding to long-term trends as well as seasonal changes. The fashion house has collaborated with many international celebrities to launch their design collections under the brand name. Namit has chosen Gabbana for the Sufi night
Who Wears What: Bride & Groom – Manish Malhotra When: Sangeet Manish Malhotra
SALIM SULAIMAN - The Merchant Brothers
Thirty-five awards, more than 1,000 films, 1.1 million likes on Facebook, 407K followers on Instagram—it’s easy to capture the highlights of Manish Malhotra’s life in numbers. Deeply entrenched in the twin worlds of fashion and film for the past 25 years, Malhotra has been singularly responsible for redefining and modernising the way women look in Indian movies. His repertoire includes designing for Bollywood stars, styling them, a diffusion range, bridal and couture. Manish is best known for his bridal wear, and his styling. Manish has also styled and designed for brides and bridegrooms all over the world, giving them something outof-the-world for their big day.
Salim and Sulaiman Merchant are among India's most respected composers, having scored more than 100 films, around 20 TV shows and composed several records incorporating cinematic, folk, electronica and Sufi influences to their music. The duo was invited for the Bollywood Night and they enthralled the audiences with their variety of music from inspirational to Sufi to pure foot-tapping entertainment. They weaved the night with their beautiful renditions, making it a night to remember.
SANAM BAND - Sanam Puri, Samar Puri, Keshav Dhanraj (Quesh) & Venkat Subramaniyam (Venky) The Youtube sensation, boy band Sanam was earlier known as SQS Supastars is an Indian pop band based in Mumbai. The 4-boy band is just two songs old in Bollywood but was an instant hit with the country’s youth with their famous songs and renditions and compositions on their official Youtube channel SANAM. The band was invited for the Reception gala and they rendered beautiful compositions, nice and clean music which entertained and exuded a charming old world feel.
Namit & Harshita have chosen Manish Malhotra ensembles for their Sangeet.
Who Wears What: Bride - Mad San Tin Zin Groom - Manish Malhotra
HIRAL KAMANI GARG
When: Mehendi
A very well known name in live music and entertainment with her shows often airing on radio & TV, Hiral Kamani Garg has performed in the weddings of Indi'as who's who and her clientele boasts of the PM and Amitabh Bachchan too.
Mad Sam Tin Zin
Hiral Garg made the wedding lively with her beautiful songs relevant to every wedding ritual that was happening in the mandap. A live rendition of all the traditional rituals made the event all the more charming and memorable. 11
The brand is the vision of 4 diverse minds, from NIFT mumbai, Madhu - Saumya - Tina – Stanzin called MADSAMTINZIN. The brand embodies in itself the sole aim to beautify women with their creations. With a penchant for innovative embroideries, flattering silhouettes, the brand approaches to fill the niche of intuitive designs executed
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The Designers Who Wears What: Bride - Varun Bahl Groom - Sabyasachi When: Wedding Varun Bahl Varun Bahl, a dresser to the stars, is one of the few true artists and couturiers’ in the Indian fashion industry. Best known for his expertise in blending the classic with the contemporary, the antique with the new and innovative use of fabrics to create a dreamy love affair for today’s kind of customer- a reflection of elegance, avant-garde, nonconformist yet rooted in classics. With enormous reserves of talent and quality work behind him, Varun has a distinction of working with international fashion maestros.
Smile Please travelled and who definitely believe that slowing down is not equivalent to dropping out. And he was the right choice for Namit's wedding ensemble. The celebrity designer has used Indian textiles, albeit in a modern context. He launched his exclusive menswear collection featuring Sherwanis, Kurtas and Headgear at the Lakme Fashion Week Spring Summer 09 Grand Finale show. And Namit's wedding sherwani.
Bahl is known for his innovative use of fabrics that he creates especially for his collections. His palette resembles that of an artist - replete with nuanced color, texture and form - the Philharmonic Orchestra recreated in fabric. Part of the magic is the sheer sensuousness of his designs, and the other is the insouciance with which he designs them. He designed Harshita's Bridal ensemble with the generous use of exotic motifs and rich luminous tones like old rose, fuchsia and reds reflecting luxe glamour that makes a statement. It is almost like an heirloom like jewelry because of its classic sensibility and incredible quality. The designer has reinterpreted his relationship with the client Harshita Goel and given form to new patterns in the design kaleidoscope. Varun Bahl designs embody glamour, sophistication and are an inherently sexy luxe style statement. Sabyasachi The eponymous label of Sabyasachi has always offered inspiring and beautiful work and the award-winning designer's collection is every wedding's highlight! Sabyasachi's design philosophy is very simple and clear'Personalized imperfection of the human hand'. He believes that “clothes should just be an extension of one's intellect”. He uses unusual fabrics, texturing and detailing, 'fusion' of styles, 'patch-worked' with gorgeous embellishments in a vibrant diverse color palette to make the feeling of going back to the ‘soul'. His creations evoke images of ancient and medieval ages. He describes his own collections as 'an International styling with an Indian soul’. In his designs, he tries to maintain a non-commercial balance in an extremely aggressive, commercial and competitive industry. His collection is for people who prefer to walk a path less 13
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The Legacy of
Godh
Traditions
Godh Bharai marks the acceptance of the girl as a part of the groom’s family. It is conducted by the women of the groom’s family and traditionally the males did not attend this function. The bride is gifted with makeup products, jewellery, henna, sarees, suits, handbags, footwear, fruits, sweets and baby toys. The gifts are placed in the bride’s lap (Godh) and that’s where the ceremony derives its name of Godh-Bharai.
Roka & Tilak The tradition of a Rokna Ceremony is to symbolize coming together of the two families of the couple. Rokna literally meaning to stop in Hindi. It symbolizes that the search of the families or the individuals for their soulmate has stopped. The bride-to-be’s father or an older male member of the family puts a tilak on the groom’s forehead. This is a gesture to accept and welcome the groom into the family. The groom is given some gifts and fed with laddoo, which is the favorite dessert of Lord Ganesha. Following this, the groom-to-be’s family presents the bride-to-be with gifts.
Sangeet The modern Sangeet is a spectacular event consisting of performances by family and friends, most of the time organized in the form of a skit. The skit tells the story of the bride and the groom in interesting commentary, music and dance. Later in the evening, the dance floor is opened up to all the guests to celebrate.
Maira & Bhaat Tel Baan
A ceremony common to the families of the bride and groom, it is performed by the mother and the maternal uncle. The mother of the bride/groom goes to her brother’s home to invite him and his family to her child’s wedding. As all Indian customs have songs and sangeet, bhaat ceremony too is celebrated with the same fun and joy.
In the Tel Baan ceremony, the ladies on both sides ‘prepare’ the bride and groom (in each respective home) for the forthcoming wedding. This ritual usually happens on the day of the wedding, and in more traditional families, happens for a couple of days around the wedding time.
Maira ceremony celebrates arrival of maternal families to the wedding houses and is performed at both bride’s and groom’s sides. Bride’s and groom’s mothers give a grand welcome to their maternal families. He gives gifts such as clothes, jewellery and sweets to the entire family.
At this ceremony, a paste made from herbs, mustard oil, fresh milk curds, henna and turmeric on the faces, arms and feet of the bride and the groom. All the ingredients for Tel Baan are separately put in bowls made of clay, put together in a plate. The ingredients are applied by the means of brushes made of grass. Family members take these grass brushes and dip them in the ingredients and apply it symbolically to their feet, knees, hands, shoulders and head seven times from bottom to top and then top to bottom. This is accompanied by some singing of folk songs.
Mehendi The mehendi or henna ceremony typically takes place a day or two before the actual wedding. Amidst family, friends, music, singing, and dancing, mehendi is applied on bride’s hands and feet. Traditional signers and dholak artists are hired to entertain the guests, and a number of professional henna artists to apply mehendi to all the ladies in attendance.
Tikka The Teeka ceremony takes place on an auspicious day around the time of the wedding cerebration. It begins with a small puja being performed by the bride’s father and the groom. After that all the male members of the bride’s family do a tilak or a teeka on the groom’s forehead. It is a gesture to show their love, and respect towards the groom. The groom is given some gifts and is fed mithai. Members of the groom’s families may be presented with gifts, fruits and mithai.
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Haldi In addition to the tel baan, the haldi ceremony is also held where ubatan or a paste made primarily of haldi or turmeric is rubbed on the bride. The thought is that haldi makes the bride glow. During the ceremony, the bride also gives a portion of the paste to her cousins and friends of marriageable age. After the ritual bath, the bride is dressed up with shringar and aarti is performed for her.
Safa Bandhi & Nikasi The groom wears a Safa (Pagdhi) or headgear which is tied up by the sister's husband. The groom also wears 'Pecha', 'Kalgi' and 'Tani'. Groom wears a turban (“Pagdi” or “Safa”) with a “Sehra” (veil) on top of it. “Sehra” is worn to ward off the “evil eye”.
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Khaana Khazaana
Baarat Procession The baarat procession starts from the groom’s residence comprising of band music and lot of decorative elements. Groom atop a horse or an elephant or a fancy car nowadays arrives at the doorstep of the bride along with family, relatives and friends. Extravagant yet cozy, Grand Hyatt Goa offers a formal banquet fit for royalty. Grand in scale and seamless in service, the food and beverage experts at Grand Hyatt help to create a menu that reflects the taste of the hosts.
Baraat Welcome The Baraat, which is the groom's wedding entourage, is eagerly awaited by the bride's family and is welcomed on its arrival at the wedding venue. The welcoming is symbolic with both sides meeting in public for the first time which is followed by the actual wedding rituals. Everybody in the ceremonial procession is greeted and this is followed by Milni. Each meeting is accompanied by an exchange of garlands, vaar and sometimes a bear hug. This is followed by arti on the groom by the bride’s mother before he finally enters the wedding venue.
Varmala Varmala involves exchange of garlands between the bride and the groom. Like all other customs and rituals, this is also a significant ceremony which finds reference even in the Vedic literature. It is an ancient practice and is still observed in India. The ceremony holds huge significance and is not just limited to the connotative meaning rather have deep denotations. The ceremony has its origin from Vedas where Hindu Gods and Goddesses performed the same ceremony at the time of their wedding. The bride is supposed to garland the groom first which shows that she has accepted him as her husband. Vedic literature talks about Swaymvar where bride used to select her husband out of many suitors by putting a garland around his neck and that is what still continues. The bride garlands her groom and the groom repeats the same activity with the bride. The ceremony holds great importance and wedding is not complete without it. The garlands are kept properly even after the wedding as they are considered to be pious and pure. The garlands are also a symbol of mutual acceptance and welcome by the bride and the groom. Both welcome each other in their life and promise one another that they will make their life as pleasant as the flowers. Also, they promise that they will make their life full of fragrance of love and mutual faith.
Grand Hyatt’s vibrant Executive Chef, who is also looking over the lavish buffet spread of the Agarwal-Goel wedding, Chef Mark Anthony Long has thoughtfull planned the elaborate wedding menu for each function. He aims to take the guest dining experience to the next level by developing specialised food, service and ambience. Chef Long’s cooking style is defined by innovative flavours, vibrant colours, quality ingredients and food that is fresh and light. Sharing his experience of preparing the wedding feast for the Agarwal-Goel wedding, Chef Long informed how he enjoyed working on the elaborate menu designed for this wedding. “Indian weddings are grand and “food” along with décor is one of the most important things. When we sat down to discuss the wedding with the clients, it was a pleasant experience as they were focused on what they wanted, yet open to experiments. They wanted something different every day and the menu is such that it keeps building on expectations every day and culminate on the final day!” He adds saying, “The best part is that we offer tailor-made menus according to the client and their guests’ preferences and give importance to the presentation. Every dish in this wedding can be expected with a twist, coming from Chef Long’s kitchen.”
Atithi Devo Bhavah
Pheras The groom and the bride go around the fire. This act is called 'pheras'. In a Marawadi wedding only four 'pheras' are done in the mandap, rest of the three pheras are performed at the entrance. Following the tradition, in the two pheras, the girl is in the front and in the other two the boy leads the pheras.
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“Right from the planning of the wedding till the very last goodbye, we were an integral part and I must say it has been a wonderful wedding gala with such gracious hosts. Both the families have been a pure pleasure to be associated with and these 3 days will be always cherished!"
The lavish gourmet spread includes all popular cuisines including Indian, Italian, Mexican, French, Thai, Chinese, Mongolian and dessert bars with never-seen-before dessert delights. The breakfast is English and everyday hi-tea is offered with different themes. The range of desserts are a pure delight and all minute details regarding food preferences of the guests have been taken care of. All the food preparations are purely vegetarian and egg-free and many dishes are gluten-free. The most fun part is the lunch on the beach where Carnival theme has been adopted in both décor and cuisine. The menu has been thoughtfully sourced and carefully served by Executive Chef Mark A Long and Chef de cuisine – Vijendra Mertia. The gorgeous custom wedding cake has been exclusively designed and created by Chef Nicole Illa from the Confeitaria Wedding Cake Collection. The dream cake from the luxurious and stylish wedding cake collection has been decorated with variety of techniques like butter-cream or rolled fondant icing, handmade flowers, pearls, fondant draping and bows, fresh flowers and fountains. And because the desi palate needs a bit of chatka and masala, we have the best of Desi regulars called in from across the cities. The Choupal includes list of famous eateries like Shankar’s kullad chai from Kolkata, Suresh Chaat wala with an elaborate variety of chaat, Gautam’s elaborate South Indian menu and famous Dadu sweets from Hyderabad.
“We are so glad to receive this invitation. We have been with the family since 25 years and have seen the children grow in front of our eyes. We wish the couple a wonderful married life and we enjoyed this wedding so much, it will be remembered for a very long time to come! The perfectly planned wedding is nothing but pure fun!" “Nothing less than a high profile wedding with celebrities and designer clothes mingling over fine drinks and gourmet food in a 5-star property of the perfect holiday destination, the Agarwals and Goels have thrown a wedding bash which will be the talk of the town for months to come. Loved being a part of it and enjoyed a lot!" “A great mix of traditional and contemporary values made this wedding a beautiful one. While we had all traditional rituals, we also had carnivals and DJs! Overall a great fun wedding! Congratulations to the Agarwal & Goel families! All the best Harshita & Namit!" 18
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BRAZILIAN CARNIVAL
MEHANDI
A WEDDING FAIRY TALE
SUFI NIGHT
Namirshita
SANGEET & BOLLYWOOD DHAMAKA
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WEDDING
Mann ki Baat Dear Reader, Words do not express what we felt throughout the whole magical celebration of the 3-day wedding gala. We express gratitude from the depth of our hearts for being a part of our celebrations and blessing Namit & Harshita. This occasion would not have been the same Dear Reader,
without your presence.
This day was awaited since almost a year now, when
We hope this edition gave you some insight into the
we would be able to share all our happiness with each
exhaustive and intensive planning and detailing which
and every one of you who made it to Goa and joined us
resulted in the joyous gala we regaled in every day.
in this celebration!
We specially thank each one of those who have been a
We heartily thank you for your thoughtful blessings
part of this momentous journey to make this wedding a
and good wishes for Harshita & Namit. Coming all the
memorable one!
way to Goa to share our joys and bless the couple is a very kind gesture and we are grateful for it.
Agarwal Family
We hope that you will cherish the moments this edition has so beautifully captured as you leave after having a wonderful time with us. Best wishes and happy journey!
Goel Family
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