Timeless Vows in a Modern Setting: Varsha and Sumant’s Wedding Amidst the Aravalis

The profound challenges of human society often revolve around adapting to changing environments: How do we blend tradition with modernity? How do we retain the purity of our heritage while finding ways to clothe age-old rituals with meaningful resonances in contemporary forms? Most importantly, how do we pass down the undiminished flame of our culture—our accumulated wisdom—from one generation to the next, retaining all that is authentic and valid while shedding away unwanted accretions? As one era transitions into another, these questions become increasingly critical in all spheres of human activity. Nowhere are these questions more challenging than in one of the oldest human traditions: marriage – the official coming together of a man and a woman in a sacred bond to live out their lives together.

The case of a traditional South Indian Brahminical wedding best illustrates this transition. In its original form, a Brahmin wedding is an elaborate, intricately structured, carefully curated, and meticulously orchestrated event spread over many days. It is suffused with religious utterances in a lost tongue, replete with gestures that no longer make sense to either the participants or the attendees, and painfully tiring for those who do not understand the significance of the events. History has repeatedly witnessed how traditions like these come under threat at periodic intervals. It is up to the community to find ways to renew and adapt to changing circumstances without sacrificing the purity of the tradition. This is no easy task—it’s easier said than done—but it is absolutely necessary if we want our traditions to remain intact and not lose their identity.

Destination weddings seem to offer an answer to this conundrum. Instead of closed halls, destination weddings offer a different perspective. Set in the serene lap of nature in great locations, with reimagined rituals to suit modern temperaments and retaining only the essence of tradition without its peripherals, Hindu weddings have taken on a new avatar in the form of destination weddings. Varsha and Sumanth’s wedding was the perfect illustration of this adjustment. Under the watchful gaze of the ancient Aravalli hills, at the magnificent Taj Aravali—whose twenty-seven acres of pure luxury nestle among undulating mountain ranges—Varsha and Sumanth’s wedding felt like a moment suspended in time, yet so contemporary. Their wedding was a tribute to tradition, love, family, and friends, all taking place amidst one of the most majestic landscapes in the country, steeped in deep history and silently standing as a witness to the depth of the occasion.

A destination wedding, however, requires meticulous planning to pull off successfully. As the saying goes, “The devil is in the details.” Bringing together three hundred-odd guests from different corners of the world to one location, creating an environment that allows them to relax and remain comfortable, and, at the same time, encouraging guests to participate wholeheartedly (without tiring them or making them feel obligated) in the traditional functions is not just tricky—it’s a delicate affair. To pull this off, the brain behind the event management must be astute, focused, outcome-oriented, deeply empathetic, and possess the ability to think through a relatively long, drawn-out sequence of events with an eye for detail. Srikanth, Sumant’s father, was the mastermind behind this event, and from the flawless execution we experienced at each step, I have pure admiration for his planning and foresight. The event was a testimony to the man himself. Of course, he would be the first to agree that no single person could have managed all the different strands of such an elaborately conceived wedding, and our gratitude and thanks go to all the key family members, friends, and partners from both sides who played crucial roles in bringing this event to fruition. From the time we landed at Udaipur airport to the time we were dropped back, nothing was left unplanned or unthought of—just extraordinary attention to details that could have easily slipped through the cracks. The fact that nothing was amiss is simply jaw-dropping work.

Every function in a Brahmin wedding has its spiritual significance; however, the Kanya Daanam is one of the most sacred and meaningful moments of the process. It is the moment when Varsha’s parents offer their daughter to Sumanth, entrusting him with her happiness, her well-being, and her future life. In the cycle of rituals, the Kanya Daanam is the most significant moment; the rest of the events—including the tying of the sacred knot—are merely a consecration and further affirmation of this act. The emotion in the air as Varsha sat on her father’s lap was palpable; it was a moment that bridged her past with her future. It symbolized the trust and love with which one family places their faith in another. All this occurred against the background of a cascading artificial waterfall, symbolizing the transition of the young couple’s life from one stage to another. Like flowing water, marriage is a process—it is not a consummation, as it is commonly regarded. As the priest chanted the important phrases that framed the transfer of responsibility from the father to the son-in-law, the ancient and enduring Aravalli hills surrounding the lawns stood as silent witnesses to the gravity and beauty of this union.

The evening before the Kanya Daanam ended on an entirely different note. As the sky turned dark and the sumptuous and lavish dinner worked its magic, we gathered under an elegant canopy for a beautiful concert by the renowned playback singer Vijay Prakash and his wife, Mahati. As Vijay’s voice warmed the air with song after song, and his talented wife joined him, their voices soared into the night. The notes hung in the air, breathtakingly haunting and beautiful, touching every heart. The concert was the perfect bridge between the solemnity of the occasion and the joy of the celebrations to come. The couple sang their duets with effortless clarity. It was the kind of musical night one never forgets—two talented singers unconditionally gifting their musical abundance to a young couple at the threshold of a new phase in their lives. That is a blessing indeed.

How can I not mention the beautiful singing performance by my two favorite people – Kavya and Gowtham – during the Oonjal (Swing) ceremony? The Oonjal ceremony is one of the most heartwarming and sweet moments of a Brahmin wedding—a beautiful tradition in which the bride and groom are seated on a swing draped in flowers, swaying gently, symbolizing the ups and downs they may face in life. The symbolism behind this ceremony is that, together, the couple must find harmony, support, and sustenance in their life’s journey ahead. It is customary during this ceremony to sing devotional songs that bring out the divine essence of the union and offer blessings to the couple. However, with Srikanth’s advice and support, Kavya and Gowtham broke the mold by performing a bewitching Ilayaraja number, a film track from the nineties. This departure from tradition didn’t please the priest, but Srikanth’s gentle yet firm intervention ensured the song was performed. And what a performance it turned out to be! For a few minutes, it was unclear whether they were singing to karaoke music or lip-syncing to the original track, so perfect was their rendition. Oonjal songs are usually sung on the fly, but Kavya and Gowtham had practiced this one thoroughly to ensure they did a great job when given the chance—a quality I love in both of them.

Varsha and Sumanth make a beautiful couple. Elegant, smiling, and dignified, they look ready for their joint life together. It is remarkable how teaching—Lata’s undivided passion and life’s work—has brought her a son-in-law, a handsome young man who was once her student many years ago. Little could she have known that her life’s passion would one day bless her with this important relationship. If ever there was proof of the law of karma, this is it. I have known Varsha since she was a young girl, and her defining characteristic is her quiet and unassuming strength and solid determination. When she laughs, her face lights up, and that is a sight to behold. A wedding is not just about the boy and girl—it is about the coming together of families. For those of us privileged to attend the wedding in Udaipur, the camaraderie and understanding between both families were clearly visible.

There is so much more to write about the past few days, but an essay has to end somewhere, and it might as well be here. On behalf of all the wedding guests, I extend the choicest blessings to Varsha and Sumanth for a lifetime filled with love and happiness. Our infinite gratitude goes to both families for making this event unforgettable. Your hospitality and love will remain fresh in our memories for a long time.