A glimpse into three different couples’ most special moments
SHRIYA & NIRPESH’S TRADITIONAL WEDDING
November 2020
There’s never been a better time to bring the Nepali wedding into highlight. It’s everywhere from celebrities to business families, Nepali weddings are the thing but with a cross cultural twist that borrows from traditions worldwide. The wedding of Shriya and Nirpesh captured our hearts as the big fat Nepali wedding of the decade. Right from the invitation cards to the wedding day, the marriage was a purely traditional back to roots wedding with rituals, culture, laughter, tears and the bonding of two souls.
Shriya
“He was planning to propose to me at Everest Base Camp but as it turned out, the weather got bad and our flights got cancelled. I might have missed that part but our wedding celebration was everything special and more. It is an arranged love marriage. We started texting for months without any real voice conversation. I was doing my masters in the US and he was in Nepal. After our first conversation, there was no end to our talks. After I flew back home on completing my degree, it was during the pandemic, I was on a 14-day quarantine and as soon as it ended, he was outside my house to take me on a date. We met each other at the right time of our life and the wedding happened.”
Day 1
Nimto: In the Hindu wedding ceremony, Nimto is an invitation and acceptance of the relationship of the bride and groom. During this ceremony, the bride sends an invitation and Sagun to the groom’s family for the Swayamvar. In the invitation, the date, time, and location are mentioned. The groom has to try everything presented as Sagun by the bride’s family. Gifts like perfume, fruits, nuts, and rotis are gifted as Nimto. Once the invitation is read to the groom, he sends Saipata and response to the bride saying he will be attending the Swayamvar.
Day 2
Swayamvar: Swayamvar means ‘choosing of the groom by the bride’. It is an age-old practice where the bride had the right to pick her partner among many suitors. With time the culture has evolved where the bride performs a puja before putting Dubo ko Mala on her groom. The reason we use Dubo ko Mala is that in spiritual belief, the grass (dubo) symbolises everlasting love and good health in marriage. The priests apply red tika on the couple’s forehead and they exchange garlands and rings in the presence of their family and relatives.
Day 3
Bukuwa: The sisters of the house paint bukuwa, turmeric and mud on the bride and groom’s skin and bathe them. It is an early morning function where turmeric paste is applied all over the bride. The pre-wedding ceremony signifies the preparation of the bride for the marriage. Clad in haldi, the bride washes off the paste and sits down for Mehendi.
Day 4
Moroccan Night: The Moroccan night-themed party for Shriya and Nirpesh is like the Indian ceremony, Sangeet. With contrasting colours depicting an Arabian theme, the celebration was a homage to the bride’s friends attending her wedding from across the world. A cheat day from the rituals and traditions, it was a fun night to party. This is where the bride and groom’s friends and families let their hair down and danced the night away amidst laughter, tears, and a whole lot of emotions.
Day 5
Reception day: The reception was hosted with a 14 person orchestra playing only Briderton’s song. The décor was a theme of green and white, and the party carried on with music and fairytale-like moments for the couple.
Day 6
Wedding & Bharani: On the wedding day the groom sets out to bring the bride to his house along with his friends, family and relatives. The Janti is accompanied by a traditional Nepali band where the groom’s entourage dances to the rhythm of Panche Baja. After that Bharani, the ritual of the father of the bride worshiping the groom is done. The bride’s father and the groom stand on opposite sides with a yellow curtain in between. Amidst prayers, the groom’s face is revealed to the father. He then welcomes the groom with garland and red tika (vermilion powder), and gives gifts as a form of respect and acceptance that the bride will now marry the groom. All rituals must have the colour yellow. The bride’s entry is in a Doli carried by her brothers. Before arriving at the Jagge, the groom must partake in the Chaurasi Byanjan (84 dishes) prepared especially for him before the wedding feast can commence.
Kanyadan: Kanyadan meaning “giving away the daughter” in Sanskrit, is a symbolic marriage ritual for the bride’s parents and the couple. Before the ritual, the couple’s feet are washed with water in a silver container. This is performed first by the parents and then all relatives and signifies that the bride is washing away her old relationships as she builds new ones on. After this, the father of the bride takes his daughter’s right hand and places it on the groom’s right hand. Mantras are chanted by the priests during the procedure. The wedding ceremony continues when the groom applies Sindoor at the Mandap and they take the wedding Pheras with the priests declaring them husband and wife.
Black Book
Wedding Planners: Welcome Event Management
Photography & Film: Wedding Diary
Decor: Welcome Event Management
Makeup & Hair: Shraddha Maskey and Razzu
Reception: Hyatt Regency
JYOTSNA YOGI & SWOOPNA SUMAN’S INTIMATE WEDDING
May 2020
Swoopna Suman and Jyotsna Yogi, one of the newest celebrity couples in town, tied the knot on May 4 in an intimate wedding, leaving their fans surprised and setting an example of a simple celebration among people that really matter.
Jyotsna: Luckily we both were on the same page about having an intimate wedding. We wanted the presence of only close relatives and friends. We were focused on a budget friendly wedding which is chaos free and fun. We invited 60 people, 30 from each side. This decision made it so much easier for my family. I could see them happily socialising with no stress, no worries, no running around. All our guests were happy, enjoying, eating, taking pictures, basically the ceremony was fun and at ease. Exactly how I wanted it to be.
Swoopna: Once we decided to get married, we started planning for the wedding. We both wanted a very small ceremony to celebrate our special day in the presence of our family and close friends. Our parents were also very supportive of this so we did a very small, budget friendly wedding ceremony. It was such joy seeing only happy faces around.
Different Ceremonies
Jyotsna: Our wedding was just a day’s event. I have attended many Newari weddings as my mother is a Pradhan. So, the ceremonies of my wedding felt new but it was so much fun. Swayamvar felt special because that was the first time, we saw each other as a bride and groom. We were blushing red. Memories were made when he had to carry me and switch my seat. This tradition where everyone washes and touches our feet, we changed it to hands instead. We followed all of the Nepali traditions and we made beautiful memories. I didn’t know that I was supposed to get Dakshina/Sagun after I bowed at his feet. I earned some then (laughs). I cannot cram my words in this tiny paragraph on how I felt about my wedding and the ceremonies but it will be a day I will remember for the rest of my life.
Swoopna: I reached our wedding venue at 11 am with my family and friends. Jojo’s father came to receive us. We went upstairs and that is where we saw each other as a bride and groom for the first time. We got engaged traditionally. It was a very overwhelming experience for me. We did poojas and received so much love, blessings and gifts. The moment I put sindoor on her was a very emotional moment for me. I still remember those moments vividly as if it were yesterday.
Black Book
Photography & Film: Envelope Weddings
Makeup & Hair: Pratima Rana
Wedding Venue: Traditional Comfort
ROMANTIC HONEYMOON
MAHIR BAHADUR MALLA &MAHIMA SINGH
Mahir Bahadur Malla is the Proprietor of The Heritage at Lamakhet while Mahima Singh is the winner of Miss Supranational 2018. The couple lives in Lamakhet to oversee and run the property. Mahir and Mahima tied the knot in Kathmandu earlier this year on February 6. The couple chose Maldives as a honeymoon destination as they wanted to start their new life amidst the natural bliss and beauty of Maldives. The couple talks about the dreamy and romantic time spent on the island.
Why did you choose Maldives as a honeymoon destination?
Mahir: Well actually Maldives is a beautiful place and was always on our bucket list as we both love travelling. I feel Maldives is a destination that caters to couples as it is more of a romantic destination than most places in the world.
Mahima: Maldives is definitely the most romantic holiday destination and I being a beach person always had Maldives on my travel list. What other time than our honeymoon would be the best time to visit. We basically saved Maldives for our honeymoon.
What was the experience like?
Mahir: Our experience was amazing. I don’t think I could have asked for more.
Mahima: Heaven on earth.
What are some of THE things you did?
Mahir: We were at Taj Exotica Island, the list of activities we did are long but the best out of all was the scuba dive. It was our first time and we enjoyed it.
Mahima: We basically stayed in our hotel throughout our stay; that is the charm of a honeymoon, you relax and spend quality time with your partner.
Our honeymoon not only was relaxing but filled with a lot of water activities. Mahir being an adrenaline junkie dragged me to some of the activities.
Memories you cherish…
Mahir: Has to be our scuba dive and just relaxing along the ocean.
Mahima: From the journey to our stay, the entire experience was very memorable as we were travelling after two years because of the pandemic.
But the best would be the time we spent with each other and having each other’s undivided attention.
Advice to couples planning their honeymoon…
Mahir: I would say go out and have fun. Just enjoy every moment as the memories will last you forever.
Mahima: Definitely go for a honeymoon. Be it anywhere, it will be invaluable time with your partner which definitely helps to make your bond stronger, especially after the wedding’s beautiful chaos.
What’s not-to-miss in Maldives?
Mahir: The activities and sunrise and the sunset. It is the most beautiful thing you can ever imagine.
Mahima: The water, marine life, the sunset and of course the food.
