Inaugural Wedding At Baps Hindu Mandir: Kanjanis Make History

EE News Desk Mar 11, 2024

As per media reports, when Harsh Kanjani initially visited the Baps Hindu Mandir in October last year, the temple was still in the construction phase. Originally planning to get married in November 2023, he and his fiancée made the decision to postpone their wedding by a few months.

Choosing a wedding date at a venue under construction was a risky decision, but it turned out to be successful. Harsh and Kanchan Kanjani (formerly Raisinghani) became the inaugural couple to exchange vows in the temple on 2 March.

Harsh shares that at first, they were uncertain since the mandir was supposed to open to the public on 1 March 1, but everything fell into place beautifully and turned out for the best.

Kanchan, hailing from Chennai, mentions that while their wedding outfits – a light pink sherwani for him and a red-on-red lehenga for her – were ready on time, the status of the Abu Dhabi venue itself was uncertain.

In the end, the couple achieved the historic feat of being the first to marry in the mandir. Additionally, they hold the unique distinction of being the sole couple permitted to perform the garland exchange, a crucial varmala ceremony in Hindu weddings, atop the temple's staircase.

Harsh elaborated, stating that iInitially, the temple's organising committee approved this, but the head swami declared it impermissible. However, true to their word, they honoured the commitment they had made to them.

Executing this special moment was no simple task. Kanchan recounts that they were instructed to tread carefully on the small stage positioned at the summit, ensuring the maintained their balance and didn't disturb the platform. Meanwhile, the couple’s family and friends stood at the base of the stairs.

Harsh reflected that despite the challenges, the positive vibes were overwhelming. He couldn't help but smile throughout the entire experience – and not just because it was their wedding day.

Temple Quest

Both 31 years old, the Kanjanis had initially planned to tie the knot in India. Harsh, who is involved in his family's steel business, describes their extensive search from Mumbai and Chennai to Jaipur and even Sri Lanka, but they couldn't find a satisfactory hotel for their wedding.

The turning point came when Harsh's mother randomly messaged the number listed on the temple's website. Within three days, they received a response expressing enthusiasm: " We would be very happy for your son's to be the first wedding here. Please come meet us.”

On the same day, Harsh left work early and took his parents to the temple's office site. Although there was a perceived risk in waiting until March due to potential delays in the inauguration and opening, Harsh and Kanchan were convinced it was the right choice. Harsh gives full credit to his parents for making this happen.

D-day Bliss

The two-day wedding celebrations commenced on 2 March, featuring a daytime henna and haldi ceremony followed by an evening sangeet at Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi.

On the wedding day, the couple, along with hundreds of guests, enjoyed lunch at the temple before the baraat, or wedding procession. Traditionally, the groom's family leads the baraat to the bride's home with music, drummers, and dancing. However, the Kanjanis chose a unique approach, with Kanchan joining Harsh in the flower-adorned baraat car. Both sides of the family joyfully danced their way from the entrance to the temple's main complex.

The varmala ceremony took place on the stairwell, followed by the groom being directed to the expansive banquet hall within the temple complex. Kanchan described that the hall can accommodate more than 2,000 people, so it looked almost empty even though they had 750 guests.

Awaiting his bride in the mandap, a section designated for the couple and immediate family, Harsh and Kanchan partook in a prayer ceremony to exchange their wedding vows and perform the pheras around a small fire. Kanchan made a grand entrance under a canopy of flowers held by four male members of her family.

Indian classical singer Ankit Batra provided musical entertainment and translated the vows and religious hymns into English. Harsh expressed that his brief for the pheras was simple: make it quick and interesting for everyone, reflecting the modern trend among young Indian couples opting for shorter, more relatable wedding ceremonies.

Whimsical Unveiling

As the pheras concluded at 6:30 pm, the temple complex was bathed in the soft glow of fairy lights, providing some of its most enchanting views, according to Kanchan.

However, instead of returning to the hotel for the evening festivities, the wedding party received a surprise organized by the temple's head swami. Recalling the surreal moment, Kanchan shared that the temple has an amphitheatre on one end, and after they were married, all their guests were led there for a pre-arranged 10-minute aarti, where the temple staff themselves blessed them.

Harsh added that the electric diyas were provided for family and friends, and two big diyas were handed to Kanchan and him. The entire arena lit up, and they prayed together as one. It was truly special.

This unexpected ceremony brought back memories of the couple's initial surreal encounter at the temple. During their visit to the incomplete site, they were invited to lay bricks that would become part of the actual facade.

Kanchan explained that a special puja has been held for every single brick that makes up the temple. The fact that they were given this opportunity, as well as being able to marry there, only sunk in then, and they realised how fortunate they are.