Abhishek- Aishwarya Exchange Garlands

Abhishek and Aishwarya visited Madurai, the place of famous South Indian temple of Meenakshi at 9.30 pm on October 6 and performed pooja to seek blessings for their marriage. According to priest Ugrapandian, 'they exchanged garlands as well'. While recalling the incident another priest Shankar said, 'she was wearing a white T-shirt and trousers and sported a thin gold chain in the neck. Both of them performed pooja together and included their parent's names in the pooja. Aishwarya said that she was from Kashyapa gotharam and later gave Rs 500 to me.'

But when asked, Aishwarya said, 'I went to temple because I like to visit South Indian temples and whenever I come here I go to temples.' However, this does not explain why the couple zipped off to Kodaikonal a day after their Madurai temple visit, checked into the Carlton Hotel and stayed in one room. After their return from Kodaikonal, they stayed at cottages no 55 and 56 of Taj Garden Retreat, which are interconnected that give complete privacy to the couple. The staff informs that during the day they would spend time together and will go for sightseeing and long strolls during moonlight.

The cab driver, who drove the couple in his Ford Ikon to Madurai temple, also narrated the conversations of the occupants that they were unable to ritualistically solemnize the wedding in the temple without the Tahsildar Certificate but exchanging garlands was always their prerogative! Rumors have it that a Mumbai hotel has received an order for what could be wedding of the year-to be held sometime in February 2007.

For full story please read the latest December issue of STARDUST.