6 Jan 2011

Bollywood-style wedding begins in Auckland

5:54 pm on 6 January 2011

Lions and elephants have been cut from an extravagant Bollywood-style wedding being held in Auckland, but organisers say the three-day event will be on a scale rarely seen in New Zealand.

The wedding of former Miss India beauty pageant winner Pooja Chitgopeker, who works in New Zealand as a doctor, and Vikram Kumar, heir to the chief executive role of US-based manufacturing company AVG begins in Auckland on Thursday night.

Family spokesperson David Hayward says about 300 guests will be treated to fireworks and entertainment by big acts, including popular Indian singer Daler Mehndi.

Mr Hayward says there will be a procession of the groom and his 40 groomsmen through the suburb of Sandringham on Friday.

The wedding ceremony will be held at a resort over which nine helicopters will fly forming the letter V.

Mr Hayward says the families wants to keep the guest list private.