7 Jan 2011

No expense spared for Bollywood-style wedding

5:17 pm on 7 January 2011

The father of the groom in an extravagant Bollywood-style wedding in Auckland says the cost of the festivities is running into seven figures.

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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 is is taking place over three days.

Festivities began on Thursday and will continue throughout Friday, culminating in the marriage ceremony at a resort.

On Friday afternoon, the groom and his father Shalabh Kumar rode on

horseback to a Hindu temple in the suburb of Sandringham.

They were accompanied by 40 groomsmen, a plane flying overhead with a banner, live Indian music and lots of dancing guests

The groom's party, or Baraat, was then accompanied by nine helicopters flying overhead in the shape of a V to the resort.

The festivities include fireworks, Indian pop stars and a four-horse chariot.

Shalabh Kumar will not reveal the exact cost of the nuptials, but says he is paying at least $1 million due to its huge size and at least 450 guests.