Maheshwar palace decked up for Holkar-Godrej royal wedding

Maheshwar: The Holkar royal palace in Maheshwar in MP’s Khargone district will on Tuesday host the wedding of Shivajirao Holkar’s son Yashwant and industrialist Vijay Crishna Godrej’s daughter Nairika.

While Yashwant manages a business in Goa, Nairika is a lawyer. They have been friends since childhood. The couple will exchange vows at Ahilyeshwar temple within the palace premises in Maheshwar, on the banks of the Narmada.

Shivajirao is the scion of the Holkar dynasty that ruled Indore for several decades. He is married to Shalini Devi. The Holkars had declared Maheshwar, 100 km from Indore, their capital. Vijay Crishna is executive director of Lawkim Motors Group. His wife, Smita, is the sister of Godrej Group chairman Adi Godrej.

Three artistes have decorated the Maheshwar fort with flowers in Maratha style, as used to be done in the Holkar era. The flowers have been brought from Indore and from neighbouring districts in Maharashtra. ‘Mashals’ and earthen lamps will be used to give it a traditional look.

Across the Narmada, many Marwari-style tents have been put up. A family source said the tents have been provided with the amenities of a luxury hotel. Boats have been hired to ferry the guests, who will also be given especially made mufflers and scarves to ward off the cold.

The family source said foreign guests and those coming from Mumbai have opted for the tents. But others such as erstwhile Gwalior state’s scion Jyotiraditya Scindia and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan will stay in the luxury-hotel inside the fort.

The bride’s sari has been designed by Jitendra Bhawsar, who is associated with Raiwa Society, an institution established by the Holkars inside the Maheshwar palace.