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Journalism of Courage
It was a star-studded night in Jaipur on Thursday as the erstwhile prince of Jodhpur,Shivraj Singh,wed the princess of Askot (Uttarakhand),Gayatri Kumari,at the Rambagh Palace Hotel. Even as celebrities,industrialists,royalty and politicians from India and several parts of the world attended the lavish ceremony,the wedding itself was held in its most traditional form.
Members of the erstwhile royal family stated that the 400-strong baraat procession began from Jodhpur on November 16,from the Umaid Bhavan palace. Though Shivraj Singh arrived in Jaipur a day before,the baraat procession began at around 5:30 pm,led by the royal elephant,horses from the royal stable and folk musicians. Behind the performers followed erstwhile Jodhpur maharaja Gaj Singh and a host of royals from across Rajasthan with Shivraj Singh,in complete ceremonial attire,in a buggy brought from Jodhpur.
The guest list included international actress Dame Judi Dench,musician-activist Bob Geldof,royal families from across India including the Scindias of Gwalior and the royal family of Patiala,as well as Prince Paras from Nepal,the princess of Bhutan,King of Kapurthala,and King Jigme Wangchuk of Bhutan.
Along with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot,cabinet ministers,polo players,a host of senior bureaucrats and senior officers from the armed forces,industry captains,Mukesh Ambani,Kumar Mangalam Birla,Gautam Singhania of Raymonds and Anil Agarwal of Vedanta also attended the ceremony.
Sources in the royal family said Shivraj Singh had been courting the 22-year-old Gayatri Kumari for a-year-and-a-half. In 2005,Singh slipped into coma after he suffered serious injuries while playing a polo match. He went through intense therapy,and family members say he is perfectly fit now.
