Across the seas for a marriage made in city of romance
Nov 22, 2006 - 1:50:30 PM
, Reviewed by: Priya Saxena
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'Western marriages don't normally click and last long, so the couple had expressed the desire to get married the Indian way,' added Pradeep Varshneya, the chief organiser of the wedding.
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By Brij Khandelwal, Indo-Asian News Service,
[RxPG] Agra, Nov 22 (IANS) With these mantras I thee wed... so spake the elderly American couple who chose to get married in this city of the Taj in the hope that some of the romance of the monument to love and the sheer vibrancy of a traditional Indian wedding stays with them for life.
All the trappings and more were in place when 62-year-old Dr George Vander Voort wed 53-year-old Dr Elena Petrova here Sunday evening. There was shehnai, full throated recital of Vedic mantras, lots of music, great food, even better clothes and a horse drawn buggy too -- and the wish that some of the permanence of an Indian wedding rubs off on them.
Both have been divorced earlier and have a daughter each from their previous marriages. They came to Agra four years ago to attend a wedding and have since then been planning to come back for their own to give their relationship a sense of durability and permanence that is lacking in the west, said the Chicago couple.
The invitation card for the wedding reception, sent to more than 250 people here, stated as much: 'Being ardent admirers of the ages old Indian marriage system, newly wedded Dr George and Dr Elena are keenly enthusiastic to get their marriage solemnized according to Hindu rituals and customs. Towards fulfilment of their lovable desire, the marriage would be held on Sunday...'
Former legislator Satish Chandra Gupta and other prominent citizens of the town worked hard to ensure that no detail left out.
The groom's wedding procession started off from a hotel on Fatehabad Road to a five star hotel, appropriately called Taj View, with George on a four-horse driven buggy, dozens of friends from the US and locals dancing all the way to the accompaniment of a band.
At some point, George got off the buggy and danced all the way to the marriage marquee. His headgear attracted attention and so did his smartly stitched outfit, complete with garlands and jewellery. Traffic on the Fatehabad Road came to a standstill as all eyes were focused on the 'barat'.
The guests were welcomed with garlands and a heavy dose of ittr (perfume) and the heavily bedecked bride dressed in red waited for her wedding vows. And as the priest recited the mantras, an expert translated into Russian all that was being said after each round of the sacred fire for the benefit of the erstwhile Russian Elena.
'Obviously, they seem to believe there is something in the Vedic rituals or in the air of India that makes the institution of marriage a lifetime bond,' said one of the guests.
'Western marriages don't normally click and last long, so the couple had expressed the desire to get married the Indian way,' added Pradeep Varshneya, the chief organiser of the wedding.
And they lived happily after? A fairytale ending after a fairytale wedding - George and Elena must sincerely be hoping so. As for the rest of us, let's see.
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