TONIGHT there's a lavish reception at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai, continuing an Indian wedding celebration that brought the couple (plus a few hundred intimate family and acquaintances) briefly to Phuket.
Those looking to learn more about the kind of multi-million-dollar Indian marriages that the island wants to encourage should turn to the social pages of the timesofindia.com
It was there, in the Bollywood section, that we found a stunning photo album of the superbly colorful engagement party back in June.
Then we learned that ''the visionary industrialist, CMD of Abhijeet Group, Manoj Jayaswal's daughter Swatee tied the knot with Lalit Tayal earlier this month amidst great pomp and show at the Sheraton Grande Laguna in Phuket.''
Simple affairs on the beach are not for Indian brides. And tonight, the drawn-out festivities continue unabated at the Taj.
''With the who's-who from the political, corporate and film world expected to come and bless the couple, it will surely be one gala celebration!'' enthuses the Times.
As for the three-day wedding on Phuket, with guests by the planeload flown in especially for the occasion, our wedding expert thinks that $3 million would be an underestimation of the cost.
''Indian chefs were flown in for the functions, exquisite decor arrangements were made and thematic parties were planned, allowing the guests to have the time of their lives in this fairy tale wedding fiesta,'' the Times writes.
''Live performances by Roopkumar and Sunali Rathod, Sayali Bhagat, Shveta Salve and Toshi and a comic act by Rajeev Nigam were the icing on the cake. [an interesting metaphor.]
''If the sangeet was a memorable affair, then the wedding at Banyan Tree, Phuket was even more memorable. All eyes were on Swatee who looked gorgeous in exquisite bridal jewellery crafted intricately by Purva Kothari.
''Her journey from the specially designed boat to the traditional palki was mesmerising and adding to the entire effect were the zillion candles that lit up the entire sky.''
Some of the gorgeous costumes and dancing from the engagement in June are on show in a photo album at The Times. We can't wait to see the wedding snaps.
We hope the skies above the bride and groom, as well as those over Phuket, are lit by a zillion candles for many decades to come.
http://photogallery.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4604260.cms
Indian Marriage Made in Heaven for Banyan TreeThose looking to learn more about the kind of multi-million-dollar Indian marriages that the island wants to encourage should turn to the social pages of the timesofindia.com
It was there, in the Bollywood section, that we found a stunning photo album of the superbly colorful engagement party back in June.
Then we learned that ''the visionary industrialist, CMD of Abhijeet Group, Manoj Jayaswal's daughter Swatee tied the knot with Lalit Tayal earlier this month amidst great pomp and show at the Sheraton Grande Laguna in Phuket.''
Simple affairs on the beach are not for Indian brides. And tonight, the drawn-out festivities continue unabated at the Taj.
''With the who's-who from the political, corporate and film world expected to come and bless the couple, it will surely be one gala celebration!'' enthuses the Times.
As for the three-day wedding on Phuket, with guests by the planeload flown in especially for the occasion, our wedding expert thinks that $3 million would be an underestimation of the cost.
''Indian chefs were flown in for the functions, exquisite decor arrangements were made and thematic parties were planned, allowing the guests to have the time of their lives in this fairy tale wedding fiesta,'' the Times writes.
''Live performances by Roopkumar and Sunali Rathod, Sayali Bhagat, Shveta Salve and Toshi and a comic act by Rajeev Nigam were the icing on the cake. [an interesting metaphor.]
''If the sangeet was a memorable affair, then the wedding at Banyan Tree, Phuket was even more memorable. All eyes were on Swatee who looked gorgeous in exquisite bridal jewellery crafted intricately by Purva Kothari.
''Her journey from the specially designed boat to the traditional palki was mesmerising and adding to the entire effect were the zillion candles that lit up the entire sky.''
Some of the gorgeous costumes and dancing from the engagement in June are on show in a photo album at The Times. We can't wait to see the wedding snaps.
We hope the skies above the bride and groom, as well as those over Phuket, are lit by a zillion candles for many decades to come.
http://photogallery.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4604260.cms
Photo Album A wealthy Indian family has booked the entire five-star Banyan Tree Phuket for three days for a wedding. The rest of the tourism industry is hoping a little love comes their way, too.
Indian Marriage Made in Heaven for Banyan Tree
Phuket Yachting Tragedy: One Dead, Two Survive
Photo Album A British man is dead after a sailing tragedy off Phuket. Police say the man was hit by a toppling mast and went under the water. It is believed he was a tourist.
Phuket Yachting Tragedy: One Dead, Two Survive
Phuket's Pole Plague Brought Under Control
Latest Bureaucracy at the beach on Phuket has brought a brace of red topped poles to tell people what they already know: the beach is public land. Now Phuket's polemania is at an end.
Phuket's Pole Plague Brought Under Control
Tiger Woods and Phuket: The Secret Revealed
Latest Tiger Woods, champion golfer and ''athlete of the decade,'' has had a relationship with Phuket that is no longer a secret. This love affair began when he was just 16.
Tiger Woods and Phuket: The Secret Revealed
Phuket's Simple Tune: Kiss Guesthouses Goodbye
Latest The end may be nigh for the Patong guesthouse as Tune Hotels finally declares its hand in Thailand, promising quality at a low price . . . plus AirAsia style aggressive marketing.
Phuket's Simple Tune: Kiss Guesthouses Goodbye
Beach Danger: Phuket Saves Money, Loses Lives
Latest Unemployed lifeguards protest about their unpaid wages while Phuket's beaches go without properly trained lifesavers. Latest statistics indicate it's simply not safe to swim.
Beach Danger: Phuket Saves Money, Loses Lives
This is shoddy, cheap work on your part, Phuketwan. It is merely the cobbling together of a series of quotes from a news publication - and is barely newsworthy anyway.
Set your standards higher.
Editor: Ed, births, deaths, marriages . . . they're what makes the world go around. People this side of the Indian Ocean are reluctant to talk, yet we find multi-million dollar splurges on weddings fascinating. Phuketwan reports from other sources, just as other sources report from phuketwan. Nothing ''shoddy or cheap'' about telling readers all kinds of human interest stories, any way we can. Once you pay your overdue subscription, we will be able to afford a correspondent in Mumbai.
Posted by Ed Sturton on December 20, 2009 07:29