The Splendour On Sunday At The Grand Hyatt

i started my sunday frantically helping pavithra pick the right saree to wear for the pre-wedding dinner at hyatt later in the evening.


i convinced her to wear the off-white georgette saree with bead-works. the electric blue and red sarees are saved for the jakarta lag of the wedding.

by 6pm, we got ready. pavithra was stunning!


and i had my fully embroidered black kurta suit with an organza gold shawl to match pavithra's saree.

at 7pm, we arrived at the grand hyatt in *ahem* our full splendour and regalia.

me: i can't believe how gorgeous we both look

pavithra: that's an absolute given dean, everyone knows that

me: we're just being honest right?

pavithra: of course we are, without a doubt

me: and without feeling all too self-conceited too

pavithra: get over it, we're both truly gorgeous lah


it was also a college reunion of some sort, with all the familiar faces from NUS. damn, i still have a crush on mark (4th from left)! *grin*


karishma the bride and pavithra

and the traditional punjabi welcoming party started to usher guests into the grand ballroom regaled with percussion music, dance and lots and lots of intoxicating singing... i can't help but feel amritsar at this moment must have been a very happy city in the whole of india.




and the dancing and ushering continued into the grand ballroom, with the womenfolk taking turns to carry the happy looking pot (literally, a pot with lit candles atop it, not the other sort of 'happy pot' ya)


and the dining table we were seated at...


and the couple was formally declared as husband and wife during a civil union ceremony, flanked by their respective families on stage


followed by FOOD... it was a supremely sumptuous long buffet spread of punjabi and north indian cuisine... absolute culinary heaven, and i totally busted my diet plan that night with 3 full helpings followed by a salmagundi picking of indian deserts like rasmalai, gulab jamun, saffron and pistachio kulfis and loads more... i may have gained 3kg right now...


pavithra and i were... well... totally stuffed after several rounds of deserts and gallons of wine and spirits




bhavna and the rest of the girl friends... damn... i love their sarees and salwar khameez!


oh-so-sweet-and-totally-in-love couple... george and radha... and oh, they're having a baby boy soon... sweet.


the newlywed kick started the all time favourite song-and-dance routine...

and soon after, it was bhangra-beats and bollywood boogey all the way for the rest of the guests


while for the rest of us, it was photo-opp time with the couple




and it was most disturbingly evident that, like krispy kreme, the full on buffet spread of good food and desert had an immediate effect on my face... a startling one kg found its was to my cheeks and chin and elsewhere...

the gang from our university days...


and they danced...


and danced...


till 1am... and my lens caught two helluva cute brothers in black and fuschia coloured kurtas... arghhh! HOTTIES!!!


damn... they're super HOT!!!

by 1am, the bride and some girl friends of ours made our way to the martini bar at the mezza9 for our last of many night caps - lychee martini


and karishma and sister rosie were all obviously pooped out...


pavithra and i made our way back home to the village at 3am...

it was one helluva night

i will so totally miss out the second lag of the sangeet and wedding in jakarta although pavithra and porcky will be there... you have fun on my behalf there girlfriends!

a day after, on monday, pavithra flew to HK to be with porkcy before they fly to jakarta for the final lag of the wedding.

i am so jealous.

but i had loads of fun on the weekend.

i'll miss you pavithra.

perhaps i'll come visit you in berkeley. i'll bring hindi music albums and dvd films by mira nair.

and to charanjit and karishma, all the best in the new phase of your lives and God bless.