Couple swop rings over valley of waves

Seemingly unruffled by the hullabaloo surrounding their nuptials, Vega Gupta, 23, and Aakash Jahajgarhia, 24, continued to celebrate at Sun City yesterday.

Pictures showed that the stage for the ring ceremony was built over the Valley of the Waves - a popular facility with a roaring wave pool and powdery beach - complete with lighting and a R2-million sound system that would rival any concert venue.

The rings were brought on stage in a briefcase yesterday.

The Hindu ring ceremony is traditionally followed by an exchange of gifts by the families, usually confectionery.

Two shipping containers of gifts have been brought from India for the four-day wedding.

A video posted on Twitter showed Vega, in a yellow outfit, being serenaded by her husband.

"It's so special for all of us, I think," said Vega in the video. "It's really a dream wedding, really, really, really happy. I think you can't get any better than this. Thank you so much everyone."

Wedding spokesman Harath Ghosh said the couple arrived in a red Maserati for the engagement ceremony. Dressed in traditional attire, they walked to one of the decorated gazebos flanked by friends and relatives.

He said internationally acclaimed dance troupe Shiamak Davar and local South African troupes entertained the guests on the stage set over the beach.

Popular Indian emcee Hussain entertained the couple and the guests with his repartee.

Also there to entertain the guests were Bollywood singer Mansi Scott and Leena Goel and her dancers from Russia, along with Drum Café dancers.

"Later, the couple moved to the stage and other family members joined them.

Two knights fully dressed in armour came riding horses towards the stage and got down in front of the stage and went down on their knees to deliver the engagement rings," Ghosh said.

Guests at the mulitmillion-rand four-day celebrations were yesterday housed in various coloured tents erected near the Valley of the Waves.

Guests included Vega's uncle Atul Gupta, Russian choreographer Leena Goel, President Jacob Zuma's nephew Khulubuse Zuma, and former deputy minister of foreign affairs Aziz Pahad.

Delhi-based chef Marut Sikka has brought a 130-strong team with him to South Africa, and planned to serve up various cuisines to guests. Pictures showed Thai women serving from a table.

Ghosh said: "They were brought in to offer exotic gourmet [food]. Cuisines like Thai, Greek, South African, Italian, Continental, Chinese, Mexican and Indian cuisine chosen from the fine dining experience are sampled onto the platter from across the different cuisines of the world."

Work continued yesterday in preparation for today's events.

Gavin Rajah's events planning company, Gavin Rajah Concept, employed Franz Gräbe Flower Couture - which has supplied flowers for TV mogul Oprah Winfrey's private visit and for the launch of her Leadership Academy for Girls - to take care of the flowers for the festivities.

Although Rajah refused to comment yesterday, The Times understands that an "enormous" quantity of flowers was being taken to Sun City for today's celebration.

A source said thousands of hydrangeas, lilies, hyacinths, roses and orchids had to be imported because the quantities needed were not available in South Africa. - Additional reporting by Sipho Masombuka