A big, fat wedding for Bhajji and Basra

Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Phagwara, October 29

Famous cricketer Harbhajan Singh married his long-time girlfriend and model-turned-Bollywood actress Geeta Basra in a big, fat wedding at Hotel Cabbana here today.

Designer outfits stealthe show

Basra wore a traditional red and gold combination Punjabi outfit designed by Surat-based designer Archana Kocchar. The outfit was accessorised by a “nath”, a “matha patti” and a “tikka”. A beautiful dupatta over her head complemented her ensemble. Harbhajan, too, complemented Basra by wearing a red and white outfit designed by Raghavendra Rathore.

‘Anand Karaj’ heldat gurdwara

At around 10 am, Bhajji arrived at the gurdwara of an orphanage home for blind situated on the Jalandhar-Phagwara highway in his newly bought Rolls Royce ‘Phantom’ edition car bought at over Rs 3.5 crore specially to bring home his lady love.

Basra, too, staying nearby at Hotel Cabbana arrived at the venue in a typical Punjabi bride’s outfit. After the “Anand Karaj”, both left for the hotel to attend the reception.

Though tight security was maintained at Bhajji’s house and at the hotel where Geeta and her family were staying, the area near the gurdwara, being in the open, was manned by drone cameras hovering over the orphanage home during the whole ceremony.

The ceremony was attended by Mumbai Indians (MI) chief mentor and Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar along with wife Dr Anjali, Akash Ambani, son of renowned industrialist Mukesh and Nita Ambani too attended the event.

Bhajji calls it a ‘special’ day

While calling the day as “special’’, Bhajji, while talking to media later at the hotel, said the six-year-long courtship had really made them understand each other better.

The whole place at the hotel was covered with imported flower petals and the guests at the wedding were welcomed by South Indian “Tanga Balli” dancers.

‘Phera’ ceremony held at the hotel

Since Geeta’s family stays in London, the couple held the “Phera ceremony” at the hotel only. The duo, along with some of their friends, left the hotel for about 15 minutes and only left for Bhajji’s house by about 6 pm.

Uncovered head of bouncers sparks row

Though the cricketer’s family took utmost care to hold the wedding in a flawless way, the uncovered heads of the bouncers inside the gurdwara during Anand Karaj raised many eyebrows. Many nearby shopkeepers raised objections to this, but despite that, the bouncers did not pay heed to their requests.

Celebrations turn sour

Celebrations at Bhajji’s house turned sour late in the evening when bouncers deployed outside his house entered into a brawl with some mediapersons standing outside the cricketer’s house to cover his wedding. The bouncers had reportedly broken cameras of some mediapersons, following which the police was called from the Chhoti baradari police station. While the media persons were adamant to get an FIR registered against the security company, the police were trying to sort out the matter till the filing of this news report.