Naoki and Gunko during their marriage and (below) guests, along with the Japanese couple, dance to the tunes of hit Odia and Hindi songs in Puri on Wednesday. Pictures by Sarat Patra

Bhubaneswar, Feb. 8: There were the barajatris, a markundi and all traditional rituals such as haathaganthi and kaudi khela! It was a perfect “big fat Odia wedding” when Japanese couple Gino Naoki and Gino Gunko tied the knot on Wednesday in Odia style in Puri.

More than 70 Japanese friends of the couple, accompanied with local well-wishers, were seen dancing to the tunes of hit Odia and Hindi songs on the streets of the beach town. They were a part of the barajatri, the procession escorting the groom to the marriage venue that started from Youth Hostel in the evening.

The Japanese men wore kurtas and dhoti while the women were seen adorning saris.

The markundi, the most special escort of the groom (usually a small boy), was played by three-year-old girl Pinky Behera, who has become close friends with the Japanese visitors to Puri.

When the groom’s team reached the hotel, chosen as the venue, other Japanese, local friends and members of the India-Japan Friendship Centre that organised the wedding welcomed them.

“We were excited to be a part of this unique wedding where you dance in joy in your friend’s marriage procession. Our local friends taught us some wonderful steps and it was a lot of fun to be dancing all the way,” said Naoto Sakamoto, Naoki and Gunko’s friend.

“It was wonderful to be welcomed with flower garlands and sandal tika on reaching the wedding venue. The event will remain a very special experience for us,” said Masao Nishina, another Japanese friend of the couple.

The kanyadaan for bride Gunko was done by Pramod Kumar Panda, a local resident, who donned the mantle of the bride’s father.

Nageswar Patnaik, another local, performed the rituals meant for the groom’s father.

As the Brahmin concluded the holy scriptures for the marriage and declared the couple as married, the huge gathering broke into a roar of joy.

“I do not think our wedding could have been more special. We are really lucky to be here and get the support of our local friends of the centre in Puri. Both of us are very happy to have got the blessings of Lord Jagannath and such a grand marriage ceremony,” said Naoki.

“We thank all our friends at the centre for having made our marriage so special,” said Gunko.

After the wedding, the couple and their friends danced together and took part in a lavish feast.

“We at the centre tried every bit to help our friends from Japan, who are regular visitors to Puri. This will not only boost the town’s tourism, but also strengthen the ties between the people of both the countries,” said Srimanta Kumar Dash, president of the India-Japan Friendship Centre.