Ritesh & Genelia at Dhiraj & Honey Bhagnani’s Wedding

Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D’Souza Maharashtrian Wedding on February 3, 2012
Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D’Souza’s wedding took place on 3 February, 2012, at the Grand Hyatt, Santacruz. It was a traditional Maharashtrian Hindu wedding. Ritesh and Genelia also had a Roman Catholic Church wedding the next day (Feb 4) at St Anne’s Church. (Details & pictures  of Ritesh & Genelia’s Church wedding is later in this article)

For the Maharashtrian wedding, Genelia’s wore a beautiful Red bridal sari with a Gold Kundan border. Her blouse was golden and exquisitely embroidered. On her forehead Genelia wore a traditional Maharashtrian “Mundavalya” (decorative strings of pearls tied on the forehead) and in her left nose she wore a Maharashtrian “Nath” (nose ring) (please see above pictures). Genelia’s Bridal saree was designed by Neeta Lulla and styled by her daughter Nishka Lulla. Genilia wore so much gold jewelry that if she were to donate it, it would solve India’s debt crisis.

Ritesh wore a smart off-white/cream embroidered “Sherwani” with a traditional Maharashtrian “Petha” (turban or pagadi)  which had a white feather in it . On his forehead, Riteish wore a traditional pearl “Mundavalya“. Riteish also wore a string of pearls around his neck.


Ritesh arrived at the wedding ceremony with a “baraat”. Riteish rode on a horse while a band played traditional Marathi songs. There were dancers performing the “Lavani” and using the “Laizzim“. Before leaving for the wedding, Ritesh performed “Ganpatipujan” at a temple where he seeked the blessing of Lord Ganesh.

The wedding ceremony started with Ritesh arriving first at the Lagna (Wedding) Mandap with a red garland. He stood facing west. The priest chanted “Mangalashtaka” and placed a “Antarpat” (cloth screen) before Ritesh. Next, Genelia arrived with a red garland and stood on the other side of the “Antarpat”. After the “Mangalashtaka“, Riteish’s mother, Vaishali Deshmukh, tied a “Eksari” (made of black beads and a gold pendant) around Genelia’s neck. Once the pandit finished chanting the “Mangalashtaka“, the “Antarpat” screen was removed and Riteish put the garland around Genelia and then Genelia put the garland around Ritesh. Holy water was sprinkled on both of them and an aarti was performed.

Genelia’s father,Neil D’Souza, then performed her “Kanyadaan”. Riteish made a cup out of his palms. Genelia’s mother, Jeanette D’Souza, poured holy water into it and Genilia’s father gave her away in marriage. Next a “Lakshminarayan Puja” was done and the couple tied a Halkund on their hands. Ritesh then tied the “Mangalsutra” around Genelia’s neck. Next the “Saptapadi” ceremony was performed. GENELIA AND RETEISH WERE NOW officially MARRIED. But wait; just one marriage was not enough for the two of them. They re-validated their marriage vows the next day in a Roman Catholic Church wedding (details of the Church wedding are mentioned below).

There was an impressive guest list at the wedding. Among the guests were Abhishek were Abhishek Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Tina Ambani, Shahid Kapoor, Kajol, Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Sajid Nadiadwala, Satish Shah, Asin, Raj Thackery, Ashutosh Gowariker, Sajid Khan, Suniel Shetty, Karan Johar with his mother, Hiroo Johar. Ashish Chowdary is reported to have stolen Riteish’s shoes.