Georgia Featured Wedding Pratima Bakshi

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A-PDF MERGER DEMO Atlanta, Georgia, March 31, 2006

Pratima Bakshi & Ravi Joshi BY JENNIFER GIBBS PHOTOS BY LA BELLA STUDIO

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When Pratima Bakshi came home from her first trip away from Ravi Joshi, she was anticipating spending time with the man she’d missed incredibly. Much to her surprise, Ravi was waiting on the other side of the door with a marriage proposal and matching Tiffany’s platinum bands. Absence apparently does make the heart grow fonder. With the commitment sealed on August 28, 2005, the couple relied on their religion to predict the day of their nuptials. March 31, 2006 at 11:15 am was the exact date and time determined by their pujaris (priests) using the time, date and Star Signs of Pratima and Ravi’s births. This auspicious date and time, known as the suhumurtham, was one of the choices given to the couple to ensure their union will be a successful one. With countless Hindu customs to follow and busy careers as physicians, planning the typical five-day celebration in a little over six months proved to be a feat. Pratima suggests, “Make spreadsheets to remember all the details about everything that needs to be done. It keeps everything so organized.” Pratima also enlisted help from her family. “We gave specific assignments to each person,” she says. The Mehndi Ceremony, started on Wednesday when twenty of Pratima’s closest female friends and relatives gathered around her as she was decorated with henna on her arms and feet. On Thursday the bride and groom’s individual families held ceremonies at their respective homes at which time the couple was showered with prayers and gifts. It was at this ceremony that Pratima put on her wedding bangles, which she wasn’t allowed to take off until after the wedding ceremonies were over. Finally on Friday morning, the festivities began with the bharat, which translates as the arrival of the groom. Then the pujari, the groom, the groom’s parents and the bride’s parents entered the wedding mandap. The wedding ceremony began. Pratima entered just minutes before the suhumurtham, and a curtain was placed in front of the groom’s face so that neither could see each other. Pratima and Ravi finally laid eyes on one another for the first time that day at 11:15 am. Pratima looked stunningly exotic in her red and gold brocade sari. The traditional Hindu gown was ornamented with intricate

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beadwork and embroidery. Her hair was worn in a bun with a ring of white and red flowers. A straight hairpiece of jewelry adorned her head and came down the part in her hair to the top of her forehead. Though most traditional Hindu weddings do not include bridesmaids as the bride is normally the center of all attraction, Pratima chose to have her three cousins and three best friends be her attendants. There was no maid of honor or groomsmen. The bridesmaids wore cream saris that were bordered in gold and maroon. Their jewelry was as equally stunning. “They all wore gold and maroon bangles, necklaces and earrings,” Pratima explains. “I bought all of this in India, and it was brought over by one of my relatives for the ceremony.” Ravi’s attire was a Sherwani bought by his mother in India for the special day. It consisted of a long coat in a cream color with embroidery at the collar and down the front of the coat. A long dark red sash hung down his shoulders, and Ravi also wore gold chains given to him by his family and Pratima’s family. A traditional vegetarian Hindu wedding meal was served to all the relatives and guests. However the actual reception was held the next day at the Grand Hyatt Buckhead. Guests began the celebration with a cocktail hour on the terrace level of the hotel, enjoying a spectacular view of the Japanese Garden. Afterwards guest wandered down to one of the majestic ballrooms to enjoy a buffet-style dinner, including naan, chicken tikka masala and potato and bell pepper curry. Just outside the ballroom, guests passed a shrine that was constructed to pay tribute to the Hindu God Ganesha, who is the Remover of all Obstacles. The wedding cake had alternating layers of chocolate cake with chocolate mousse and lemon cake with strawberry-lemon filling. The white scroll pattern, four-tier dessert was topped with a boy and girl dressed in traditional Indian clothing that was made specifically for the couple by the bride’s aunt. With a spiritual weekend rapt with emotion behind them, Pratima and Ravi set out on a relaxing 12-day honeymoon to the Greek Isles. Among the many stops, including Athens, Mykonos, Santorini and Crete, they made, Pratima was most thrilled about spending her life with Ravi. “I’m excited to be spending forever with the man I love,” she says. www.idoforbrides.com

Wedding Sources: Ceremony Site: Hindu Temple of Atlanta, Riverdale Reception Site: Grand Hyatt Buckhead, Atlanta Officiant: Gopal Bhattar Bridal Gown Source: Texas Sare Sapne, Atlanta Hair: Chris Nicholson Salon and Spa, Kennesaw Makeup: Page Luther, Atlanta Men’s Attire: Silver Tulips Creations, Edison, N.J. Rings: Barron’s Fine Jewelry, Snellville Transportation: Always Available Limousines, Smyrna Reception Décor: Kalpana Shah, Sterling Décor Wedding Cake: Frosted Pumpkin Gourmet, Atlanta Caterers: Udipi Café, Lawerenceville; Café Bombay, Atlanta Music: Neil Mirchandani, DJ Sketch Productions, Atlanta Photography & Videography: La Bella Studio, Atlanta Travel Agency: Key Tours, Atlanta Wedding Night Accommodations: Grand Hyatt Buckhead Honeymoon Destination: The Greek Isles

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