Kochi: Traditional Hindu marriage rituals are fast becoming popular among Westerners, who crisscross continents and fly to God's own country – Kerala – to take their wedding vows.

The former Dutch palace at Bolghatty, now a hotel of the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation was the venue of one such wedding on February 10. For the bride – Nicola Pauling, a journalist with Reuters and the groom John Freeman, a pharmaceutical retailer from United Kingdom, Kochi was their dream venue, which they chose six months ago after a visit here.

The bride, wearing a deep red 'ghagra choli', arrived in a boat at the venue, while the groom, attired in a green 'shervani' and 'kurta', escorted her to the flower bedecked 'mandapam', as 'Vatapi Ganapathim' was played on the 'nagaswaram' to welcome the bride.

The couple, originally from New Zealand, arrived from UK to exchange wedding vows and some traditional Hindu rituals were performed as the 'nagaswaram' music was played in the background. The traditional 'Nilavilaku' was also lit.

Their family members and friends, who came in from various countries, were all dressed in saris and traditional Indian dresses.

Two weeks ago, a Canadian couple, who had been married for 40 years, felt it was never too late to get married once again in traditional Hindu style.

The bride had worn a 'mundu' and 'veshti', the typical Kerala attire, while the groom was in 'mundu' and 'kurta'.

PTI