Jodhpur: Traditional folk songs and a cricket match enlivened Umaid Bhawan Palace as newly-wed Arun Nayar and Liz Hurley arrived in Jodhpur on Wednesday evening for a grand Indian wedding.
They arrived at the palace-turned-hotel from Mumbai with a battery of high-profile guests from Britain and India, including Hollywood stars and industrial big-wigs.
A delay by about seven hours in their arrival, however, changed their programme to hold a musical night at the 11th century Nagour Fort.
The mehendi ceremony was conducted shortly after their arrival, with henna applied on Liz's hands.
Melodious folk songs sung for the occasion by local artistes created enthusiasm among the guests, especially those from Britain and Hollywood who had never seen an Indian wedding earlier.
A cricket match between Nayar XI and Hurley XI followed the mehendi ceremony on the lush green lawns around the palace.
The guests included Hollywood star David Furnish and Williams Aid, Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece and industrial icons Adi and Parmeshwari Godrej. The Godrejs had hosted a special party for the couple at Mumbai earlier.
The couple and guests arrived at Jodhpur airport in a chartered flight at around 1745 hours IST. Arun and Liz drove straight to the venue of the celebrations in a Bentley car.
Liz wore an almond coloured sleeveless top while Arun was seen in a kurta and jeans. Liz’s four-year-old son Damien was also with them.
They were earlier expected to arrive at 1030 hours IST and to go to Nagour for night-long celebrations. The couple will now go to the fort on Thursday afternoon where around 100 cottage tents have been erected to accommodate the guests.
Arun and Liz will tie the knot according to Indian traditions on Friday evening at the Baradari, a structure with 12 poles, of Umaid Palace after coming back from Nagour.
After the traditional ceremonies the couple will host a grand reception at the majestic 548-year-old Mehrangarh Fort on Friday evening.
(With inputs from PTI)
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