Thaindian News

Varanasi, March 5 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party MP Varun Gandhi’s wedding with Kolkata-based graphic designer Yamini Roy Sunday at the Kamkoteshwar Temple here will see shehnai maestro late Bismillah Khan’s son-in-law and disciple Ustad Ali Abbas render the ragas of his legendary teacher.

The marriage ceremony would be performed Sunday morning inside the hall of the temple, said Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati, who along with other priests, will perform the wedding rituals.

Meanwhile, Abbas and his group have been rehearsing for the day since they were approached some 15 days back.

“It’s quite heartening that Varun’s wedding will take place here… We will make every effort from our side to make the wedding memorable,” Abbas told reporters here Saturday.

“I and my group will render the same tunes my ustad (Bismillah Khan) used to play during auspicious functions and ceremonies,” he added.

“We would play the popular old song ‘Jhumka gira re, Bareilly ke bazaar mein…’ composed in the Purvi tone and would render several auspicious tunes,” said Abbas.

Earlier in the day, Gandhi’s Haldi rasm (a pre-marriage ceremony) was performed at a simple function held in the premises of the temple.

“Both of them (Gandhi and Roy) will lead a happy life. Their wedding ceremony will continue from 6:30 in the morning till 8:30 a.m.,” Saraswati told reporters

Gandhi and Roy attended Saturday’s ceremony in simple dresses. While Gandhi wore a cream-coloured kurta-pyjama, Roy was dressed in a light pink saree.

A limited number of guests had been invited.