Katmandu: Royals, corporate czars and a sprinkling of movie stars are converging in Nepal for a ritzy, high-profile wedding that many hope will ease tensions after months of political chaos and lure tourists back to the Himalayan kingdom.
The wedding—between an Indian royal and the daughter of Nepal's army chief—will be the country's first major social event since last month's bloody pro-democracy protests forced King Gyanendra to relinquish power he seized 14 months earlier.
"The wedding will lift spirits and help overcome the gloom and doom we are going through after so much turmoil and problems," said Gautam SJB Rana, managing director of Baber Mahal Revisited, a century-old royal building converted into a shopping and restaurant complex.
In the wedding on Sunday in Katmandu, Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad—a member of an Indian royal family that once ruled over the country's western Baroda kingdom—will marry Nepal's Pragyashree Thapa.
Pragyashree is the daughter of General Pyar Jung Thapa, commander in chief of the Royal Nepal Army.
After a long communist insurgency followed by political upheaval in Nepal, rioting in recent weeks killed at least 19 people before Gyanendra relinquished his grip on power and restored Parliament. Many see the wedding as a happy break.
The 35-year-old groom, Gaekwad, heads textile company Baroda Rayon and lives in Mumbai. Pragyashree, 25, is a doctor and a lieutenant in Nepal's army.
In addition to the welcome distraction of the festivities, the gathering of elites and celebrities—and the media attention they're getting—could also help ease the fears of tourists who've stayed away since the uprising against the king in April.
"All Nepalese should have a feeling that we are over with the problems, and we should invite tourists," said businessman Om Rajbhandari.
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"At this time any such publicity is welcome," said Yogendra Sakya, who owns several hotels. "The media attention will help ease apprehensions in a lot of people outside Nepal. We should have more of them."
Gyanendra, Crown Prince Paras and top Nepalese government, business and military leaders are expected at the wedding, along with top of Nepali society. A chartered plane was bringing in guests from neighboring India, including royals, Bollywood film stars and corporate heavyweights.
At least 100 of the 250-plus invited guests canceled their plans, however, apparently apprehensive after seeing TV images of last month's street fighting between police and anti-monarchy protesters.
Still, many Nepalis were excited by the diversion.
"The wedding is a happy occasion. It adds to the close relationship between India and Nepal," said college student Niranjan Bajracharya. The two countries have had centuries of close religious and cultural ties, and maintain strong political relations. Many Indian royals have married into Nepal's powerful Rana family and other high-ranking Nepali clans.
Some festivities will take place at Rana's complex on Friday night, where 25-feet (8-meter) trumpets will play along with performances by traditional musicians. Guests will be showered with rose petals.
"This will be an advertisement for Nepal," said Rana. "It is also a good opportunity to showcase traditional Nepali culture to the foreign guests."
But Bajracharya said the timing of the wedding was too soon after the recent political upheaval.
"I feel they should have waited for some time," he said. "The country hasn't yet overcome all the pain that the people have gone through."
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