A closer look into super wedding of elite Indian couple in Phu Quoc

The wedding of Prerna and Aditya, who live and work in Dubai, took place from Feb. 16-19 with 600 guests. On Feb. 17, after a cozy lunch, the bride and groom entered a series of traditional Hindu wedding rituals. The first was the Mehndi ceremony, held later that same day. The remaining rituals, including Puja, Haldi, Sehra Bandi, Baraat, and the main wedding ceremony Mandap, took place the following day.

A highlight of the main wedding area's decor was a system of arched gates, consisting of four bamboo gates handcrafted into various artistic shapes. The main Mandap gate under the sunset weighs nearly 1 ton and requires over 40 people to transport and install at the resort.
In Hindu weddings, the Mandap gate is considered an essential element in decoration. The four corners of the gate, touching the ground, represent the four basic elements of fire, water, earth and air.
The main ceremony area must face the Northeast because Indians believe this direction is where day, night, yin, and yang intersect. This balance is believed to bring good fortune for new beginnings in life.

The three sub-gates include two for the bride and groom's entrance from opposite directions, and one leading to the aisle.

The gate where families of the bride and groom met.

One of the important rituals in an Indian wedding is the Phoolon Ki Chadar ceremony. The bride's brothers will carry a large floral canopy to cover the bride as they lead her to the aisle. This act holds sacred significance in Indian culture, symbolizing the bride's upbringing, care, and protection by her family.

The bride and groom then perform the Varmala (or Jaimala) ceremony, exchanging garlands as a mutual agreement to marry, akin to the ring exchange in other countries. These garlands, made of various fragrant, brightly colored flowers, represent the esteem they hold for each other and symbolize the love they share in this sacred moment.
Besides the main wedding, the Indian couple also performed a series of traditional Hindu pre-wedding rituals, wishing to bring luck and blessings to the soon-to-be-married pair. Each ritual is meticulously prepared and checked the night before to ensure the ceremonies proceed on schedule, especially the main ceremony in the afternoon.

To decorate each ceremony area, a team conducted detailed research on the characteristics, meanings, and origins of each ritual. They carefully discussed with the organizing agency to choose colors and materials that respect Indian culture and beliefs while showcasing the couple's modern aesthetic preferences. A special detail of the wedding includes the Mehndi ritual, hosted by the bride's side, where only female guests participate.

In this ceremony, Henna ink is used to draw intricate Mehndi patterns on the bride and female guests' bodies. Unlike Middle Eastern or Pakistani Mehndi, Indian Mehndi features delicate lines and lace patterns, covering the bride's hands and feet. According to Indian belief, the more vibrant and detailed the patterns, the more fulfilling the marriage life.
Subsequently, the Ganesh Puja ritual is conducted at the bride's home, led by a priest to offer prayers to Ganesha, God of Beginnings. The bride's parents also participate in this ritual.

At the same time with Puja, the groom's side also performed the Haldi ceremony, where family members and close friends apply turmeric paste on the groom's face and body. This pre-wedding ritual symbolizes beauty, fertility, and prosperity, ensuring a smooth transition into married life.

The Sehra Bandi ritual signifies the groom's readiness to be the family's breadwinner. His mother applies eyeliner to protect his soul from evil spirits.

The groom then wears a turban adorned with a pearl string, symbolizing the family's wealth and prosperity. Male guests are also invited to wear turbans as a gesture of celebration.

The final ritual before the main ceremony is Baraat, a significant wedding procession in Indian culture. From the Mehndi ceremony to the completion of Baraat, the bride remains unseen, secretly observing the groom from a distance and only appears once her family consents to the marriage.
In the Baraat ceremony, the groom appears in traditional Indian attire, riding in a specially designated vehicle, led by his male relatives amid lively cheers to the main wedding area (Mandap) to meet the bride's family.

The vibrant atmosphere of the Baraat ceremony is followed by the bride's mother applying a tilak (red ) on the groom's forehead and performing the aarti ritual to ward off evil spirits. All the men from the bride's side will then proceed with the milni ritual.
They exchange garlands and present money and clothes to the groom as an act of forming a connection between the two families.