Wedding Festival

A venture first of its kind
By Elita Karim
28 June 2004, 18:00 PM
TOP: Dancers portraying the traditional ceremony of Gaye Holud, the bride sitting in the forefront; LEFT: Mannequins dressed in gorgeous wedding attires
The conventional Bangali notion that weddings are always better off taking place in winter, will probably take a back seat pretty soon. Marking the hot and sultry summer this year, an exceptional two-day Wedding Festival was organised at the Spectra Convention Centre recently. The event, sponsored by HSBC and organised by an event management company Zykon Bangladesh, attracted a significant number of spectators, especially elderly people on the hunt for wedding requirements, not to mention prospective brides and grooms!

This fascinating event included various business houses displaying their attractive products and services under one roof. Interested people from different sections of the society and age groups were seen inquiring after many of these houses and their offers. For instance, a big bunch of ladies were seen gathered at the stalls of Dressy Dale Collection, Khan Brothers, Neegar, Rado Collections and New Jarwa House, checking out the newest in wedding saris, wedding suits and kurtas, wedding jewellery and watches. To complete the whole 'matrimony-environment', Monika's Badhon, a matchmaking business house, was there with their 'Don't feel shy' and 'Looking for someone?' logos, where several prospective grooms were waiting for a perfect match. Dulhan exhibited its collection of Gaye Holud requirements, starting from outfits to the traditional mehendi designs, rakhees and flower ornaments. Photography agency VIP was overflowing with photographs and video recording bookings, and Graphics Echo was in demand for their wedding card designs.

Sweetmax was displaying and also selling their sweetmeats whereas Hertz Rent-a-Car was displaying vehicles decorted with in flowers and colourful ribbons, ready to take off with a newly wed couple. Spectra Group exhibited their food catering, complete with silver ware and napkins. Post-wedding services included Securex exhibiting their highly developed security system. Honeymoon seekers were also in luck, since Spectra Tours & Travels was present with their various offers and discounts to travel all around the world. Nova Dreamland displayed a collection of Russian crystals, a perfect choice for wedding gifts.

HSBC offered wedding loans and wedding furniture loans, while Kaniz Almas of Persona was collecting dates for bridal make-up and giving out hairstyle tips. To everyone's delight, Fahim and Shamon a little boy and girl were dressed in wedding outfits and made to sit on wedding thrones, making an absolutely adorable pair.

Biyer Adda or a Wedding Remembrance was held at the venue, where celebrities spoke of their 'happily married' lives. Personalities like Suvro Dev, Emon and Bijori, Jewel Aich and Bipasha Aish, Tapon Chowdhury, Fahmida Nabi, Asif and many others were present in the discussion, where they laughed at questions like why people get married, should one actually get married and name a few advantages and disadvantages of married life.

Some say that marriages are arranged in heaven. However, by the looks of this successful event, at least a few prospective brides and grooms might have been inspired to come together and tie their knots for good.