PHOTOS: Buda Castle hosts luxurious Indian wedding

Indian weddings are a real feast not only for the eyes but for all your senses with their colourful cascade of desi attires, unique customs and rituals and exquisite array of exotic dishes, not to mention the endless dancing and singing that goes on way-beyond wee hours. And all that fun is multiplied when it’s the son of one of the most influential Indian families who decides to tie the knot. We at Daily News Hungary had the honour to attend the first-ever Indian wedding held in Hungary and share exclusive photos of the ceremony.

Travelling with 500+ guests, plus flying in hundreds of staff, including top-tier chefs and celebrity make-up artists and stylists, is not out of the ordinary for a high-profile Indian wedding. The influential, Dubai-based Vachani family spared no expenses and left no stone unturned when it came to hospitality and guest experience. All elements, from the beautifully intricate decoration to the exquisite array of Indian and international dishes were detailed at micro level.

The Vachani family

The father of the groom, Mr Kamal Vachani is the group director and partner of the Al Maya Group, one of the leading retail chains in the UAE and the GCC countries. Apart from his keen business mind, Mr Vachani also boasts impressive skills on the dancefloor, which he demonstrated both at the ceremony and in an earlier YouTube video uploaded of the businessman. The only son of the Vachani dynasty, Lakshay Vachani and the bride Alia Mahtani, daughter of Ravi and Poonam Mahtani first crossed each other’s path at a Monaco wedding back in 2018. Lakshay asked Alia to be his girlfriend at the 2019 India vs Pakistan World Cup cricket match in Manchester. Alia’s response was “if India wins and it doesn’t rain, I will go out with you”. On that day, there was an 82% chance of the game being washed out. However, it all worked out and 5 years later the couple decided to enter the next chapter in their life together.

According to an insider with close ties to the family, the venue was picked by the couple randomly poking at the map, eyes covered. However, since both of them had visited Budapest previously, they were pleased with their pick. Besides, they aimed for a new European wedding venue, one that had been relatively unexplored so far. In 2022, the most popular Indian wedding venues in Europe included Paris as well as Lake Como and Amalfi Coast in Italy.

It is no wonder that Buda Castle is becoming a top wedding destination as it has recently made it to an international list of the most imposing castles in Europe, leaving behind such stunners as the Palace of Versailles in France. 

Endless celebrations

The lavish, multiday celebrations kicked off on Monday with a welcome dinner at the exclusive fusion restaurant Kiosk, in downtown Budapest. It was followed by the Sangeet held at the Eiffel Art Studios, another important pre-wedding event leading up to the big day. The Sangeet consists of traditional dances performed by relatives and friends of the bride and groom, sharing toasts and anecdotes of the in-laws, all aiming at strengthening the bond between the two families.

The illustrious Buda Castle served as a picturesque venue for the cosmopolitan yet culturally rooted wedding reception on Wednesday. The ceremony began with the Baraat, the groom’s great entrance, as his entire family and friends led him to the wedding altar. With the vibrant crowd moving to energetic Punjabi hits and the surprise performances of famous international singer Ne-yo and Bollywood super star Sukhbir, the procession was a truly rousing spectacle. After walking down the aisle accentuated by an array of wedding sparklers both sides, the couple exchanged floral garlands that symbolised their wholehearted acceptance of each other. As seen in the photos below, the bride was turning heads with a stunning carmen gown with embroidery work done all over while the groom was sporting an elegant pink jacket and fitted trousers. 

Indian wedding reception

Hindu weddings typically take place outdoors under a bridal canopy known as a Mandap, whose four pillars represent the four parents. As part of the lengthy function, the couple exchanged vows and walked around the sacred fire four times, with each turn representing the four major aims of human life: Dharma, morality; Artha, prosperity; Kama, personal gratification; and Moksha, spirituality. In the meantime, a series of prayers and verses were chanted by the priest and the close family while the live musicians were playing traditional bridal tunes. This part was followed by the most pivotal Hindu wedding rite the Saptabadi, or seven steps or circles that represent the seven principles and promises the couple makes to each other. While Lakshay and Alia were completing their rounds, family members were blessing them with rose petals and rice.

As the final part of the ceremony, the groom applied a red vermillion powder on the forehead of the bride and placed a dazzling jewellery piece with diamond pendants around her neck that signifies the groom’s devotion to his bride and the bride’s new status as a married woman. The reception ended with a spectacular firework show followed by a luxurious buffet-style dinner, where the guests enjoyed a wide range of delicacies from all around the world.

Our editorial team wishes the newlyweds the very best of luck, health and happiness in their married life ahead. Besides, we hope that Budapest and its countless wonders will continue to serve as breathtaking backdrops for many international weddings to come.

Below, you can check out exclusive photos of the wedding ceremony: