(From top): Arthur Chua Aifd, Jyoti Soni and Olivier Bertieaux (left to right) at Vivaha 2005; Amartya Sen and Yogi Deveshwar at the India Habitat Centre, A.D. Singh and Ashvin Kumar at the Olive Bar

Weddings are always special affairs ? and never more so than in the case of Indians ? after all, we invented the Great Indian Wedding. And Vivaha has figured out how to pull in the crowds to its high-profile wedding exhibitions. The venue, Delhi?s Taj Palace Hotel, was decked all in white and the whole place turned into a walking, talking Indian wedding dream.

Everything was related to grooming yourself before D-day. In fact it seemed imperative that you start six months ahead. Makeover sessions were planned for each day with artistes like Arthur Chua Aifd from Singapore (workshops in floral designs), Olivier Bertieaux from JF Lazartigue (on hair and make-up) and Jyoti Soni, (wedding planner).

Said Tarun Sarda, CEO, Vivaha Interactive, ?Celebrating Vivaha 2005 differs in the sense that now large corporates are realising that it?s a fitting platform to reach their audience. For the first time companies like Glaxo SmithKline have partnered with us to market their oral contraceptive pills. Similarly GE is marketing its home loan solutions at the exhibition. We?ve tried to expand our base of clients beyond jewellery and clothing and bring in an element of vibrancy in the exposition.?

From trousseaux to global cosmetic brands to household d?cor and furnishings, wedding planners, honeymoon destinations, luxury watches and jewellery ? everything was wrapped together to present a new perspective to the age-old custom of Shubh Lagan.

Some of the designers displaying exotic trousseau lines were Pakistani designer Nadia Lakdawala, Khushali Kumar, Tantra by Ratna Jain, Change by Archana Jain, to name only a few. For those wanting to splurge on jewellery, there were renowned designers and brands at the event like Adora, Rio Tinto, Gitanjali Jewels, Instyle, Orra, Naqsh and Diagold. There was Celeste and Cocoa World as well to add flavour with their designer chocolates.

Man of many parts

The celebration of filmmaker Ashvin Kumar?s (yes, of the Little Terrorist fame) journey to Hollywood was held at the Olive Bar in Delhi recently. Since its world premiere in September 2004, Little Terrorist has been invited to over 50 film festivals. It?s won best film awards in seven of them, besides being mentioned by the BAFTA LA and nominated for both the Oscars and the European Academy Awards.

The film was screened at the celebration after which the filmmaker kickstarted the evening with a lively rendition of La Bamba. This was followed by other numbers like I?m Too Sexy by Right Said Fred and Superstar by Jamelia. When mother Ritu Kumar (she?d designed the clothes for his film) was complimented on her son?s impressive vocal act, she was all smiles. In fact, she?s looking forward to chilling out at his wedding that?s due at the end of this year with a graphic designer called Divya. The two go back a long way. Divya?s father was Ashwin?s teacher at his school.

There were familiar faces everywhere. Designers Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna, Ranna Gill and Simmar Duggal, restaurateur A D Singh, model Meyhar Bhasin et al.

What with personal photographs on display at the exhibition, a musical performance to take care of and guests waiting to chat with him, Ashvin was a busy man but gracious nonetheless. He revealed tidbits about his next Hollywood project called Jungle. Till now all he can confirm is that actors Sandhya Mridul and Shiny Singh are starring in this film.

An argumentative streak

When Amartya Sen delivers a lecture, you know the venue?s got to be jampacked. And so it was at the India Habitat Centre where apparently more than 500 people put in an appearance. The renowned economist has just had a release of his book The Argumentative Indian: Writings on Indian History, Culture and Identity. He spoke on it at length at the event held in Delhi recently where he deliberated on the topic: On Understanding India. The welcome address came from Yogi Deveshwar, president, CII while a brief introduction was made by Thomas Abraham, president, Penguin Books India.

Are Indians argumentative? Sen cited three reasons: a very long tradition of argumentative tradition in the country?s past, a profound contemplative relevance of this particular topic and the neglect of this aspect in most discussions. He talked about everything from Babar to atheism, from the Vedas and Ramayana to agnosticism. While flipping through his papers he suddenly remarked, ?I think I?ve mixed them up. I do it all the time you know,? eliciting an amused reaction from the audience.

Sen interspersed the monologue with anecdotes such as the one about the library at Harvard where once upon a time if an Indian book arrived it was put in the section of religion. ?Of course I take some credit in bringing about a change,? he smiled.

Photographs by Rupinder Sharma, Jagan Negi and Prem Singh