Big fat wedding party still on strong

DELHI - After a week of unstinting lavishness, one of the biggest and fattest society weddings ever staged in India was still going strong last night, with Bill and Hillary Clinton, Naomi Campbell and Diddy among those flying in to join the multi-million-dollar nuptials.

Around 350 "permanent" guests have been attending the marathon marriage of the hotel tycoon and actor Vikram Chatwal to Priya Sachdev, a model who has just been offered her first Bollywood role.

The extravaganza saw them hopping on and off private flights, accepting haute couture clothes and gifts daily, and partying into the night as part of a three-city jaunt.

"It has been hectic for us, but we are pleased to keep our guests happy," said Daman Chatwal, the bridegroom's mother.

The Chatwal family, who own the Hampshire Hotels and Resorts chain and Bombay Palace restaurants in the United States, are not without influence.

Vikram's best man is Lucas White, who inherited the bulk of a £70 million ($182.5 million) estate when his father, Lord ("Gordy") White, died in 1995.

The young men share a taste for fine living, music and accumulating expensive cars. Chatwal himself has a penchant for Aston Martins, which he keeps at his homes in Long Island near New York and in Park Lane, London.

It all began with a sumptuous party in Bombay on Monday night. The wedding caravan then moved on to the Shiv Niwas Palace at Udaipur in Rajasthan, where previous guests have included the Queen, Jackie Kennedy and Roger Moore. Guests were showered in white petals and diverted by Rajasthani dancers performing in silhouette behind huge white curtains.

Next evening saw a Venice Carnival ball at Jagmandir, the island palace on Lake Pichola featured in the James Bond movie Octopussy.

Back in Delhi were two more parties, one at the Maurya Sheraton, Delhi's smartest hotel, before the grand jaimala ceremony and the exchange of garlands between bride and groom. There the dress code was colour only - no black or white. At least 80 dishes were to be served.

This morning features the Anand Karaj, the religious ceremony, to be followed by a black-tie reception.

Then comes a three-week honeymoon in the Maldives - and yet more junketing.

- INDEPENDENT