Traditional. Minimal. Unpretentious. That is how the Rahul Dravid wedding is set to take place.
While not exactly a manner in which fans would wish their cricketing icon to tie the knot, the ceremony is right after the heart of Dravid's fiancee Dr Vijeta Pendharkar.
The father of the bride-to-be, Wing Commander (retd) S P Pendharkar, confirmed that the wedding would take place in Bangalore on May 4. The venue, however, remains a closely guarded secret.
This is a departure from the custom of holding the wedding in the bride's city, Nagpur in this case, but Wg Cdr Pendharkar cited security fears as the reason for the change.
The guest list is also, therefore, short. For the Dravids, it reads 'immediate family and close friends'; for the bride-to-be it is only 'immediate family'. Close friends for Dravid includes the Indian cricket team. The ace batsman is said to be especially close to little wonder Sachin Tendulkar and skipper Sourav Ganguly, both of whom will be present for the ceremony.
According to Jayashree Pendharkar, Vijeta's mother, simplicity will be the hallmark of the celebration. It is in keeping with the wishes of both families, she added.
Nevertheless, the exclusive affair will not be short on rituals. A 'sanskara' in the proper Vedic tradition, the ceremony will be conducted according to Maharashtrian customs.
A small reception was initially planned for May 10 in Nagpur. Not wanting to go through the exercise of printing and distributing wedding cards, the Pendharkars had started inviting people on the telephone. But following the media blitz over the last three days after the news became public, the family is left feeling drained. The preparations, a close relative told rediff.com, have been put on hold.
The family, Wg Cdr Pendharkar claims, has enough reason to hold back. The telephone has not stopped ringing since the news broke. Also, constant attempts are being made by journalists to get in. Jayashree Pendharkar has virtually been pleading with the media to go away.
But again, it is not everyday that small cities can claim such proximity to celebrities. The city has just decided to live it to the full.
