Glimpses from designer Ragini Ahuja and Shikhar Suman Bassi’s intimate lockdown Anand Karaj in Delhi

“Everything could be planned without a hitch, given the scale of the wedding. And I was really excited to marry Mr Bassi,” says Ragini Ahuja. Like most love stories in the digital age, the designer behind the label Ikai and the exercise physiologist’s paths first crossed on a dating app. “Shikhar and I spoke for a month before we met,” Ahuja revealed. The initial encounter soon blossomed into a long-term relationship.

Two years in, amidst the nationwide mandated lockdown in wake of COVID-19 outburst, Bassi proposed to Ahuja. “It was a complete surprise for her. I got a ring I knew she would like and proposed to her at her workplace,” he discloses about the pleasant surprise. The couple sealed the deal with a traditional roka ceremony at the bride-to-be’s home on July 5, 2020. Respecting the coronavirus guidelines, in attendance was just their parents and siblings for the ring exchange.

The Anand Karaj

Ahuja and Bassi were always on the same page about hosting an intimate affair. “We never imagined getting married the ‘big fat Indian wedding’ way. The pandemic gave us an opportunity to not follow any conventional norms and do exactly what we loved,” the groom discloses about how the lockdown turned out to be a blessing in disguise, at least as far as this occasion was concerned. The couple wed in a heartfelt, intimate ceremony honouring the Sikh tenets. “Our Anand Karaj was performed at a Gurudwara. The ceremony was so spiritual and beautiful. We were both emotional and funny during our pheras. I cracked a joke or two, and we both tried controlling our laughters. That’s us! We both can be goofy and emotional at the same time,” Ahuja reminisces.

The bride’s home was chosen as the venue for the post-nuptial celebrations. “For imbibing a festive vibe, my family had decorated the space with Rajnigandha flowers—imagine beautiful fragrant white ladis strewn across the home,” Ahuja shares. Although the Anand Karaj was low-key, the couple ensured to earmark the special occasion with a hearty lunch spread, pulling every stop with a roster of cuisines. “The food for the wedding was all local and seasonal. We had dishes from around the country; right from Jodhpuri bhutta to Hyderabadi baigan and even Gujarati thepla,” Bassi says.

Only their parents and siblings attended the wedding ceremony in person. But dozens of friends and relatives, from India and overseas, joined in virtually. “It would’ve been ideal for all our loved ones to be there physically but given the situation they were all a part of our special day digitally. We live streamed our wedding on YouTube, with everyone watching the rituals from different countries and across different time zones. My sister decorated her hands with henna and dressed to the nines for the wedding, which for her was 10.5 hours and 12,000km away in Boston—it was all just so special,” Ahuja reveals, describing some of her fondest memories.

The wedding wardrobe

Being a designer, Ragini Ahuja decided to wear one of her creations for the wedding. “It’s a limited edition Ikai; limited to one,” she laughs. The self-confessed colour-introvert decidedly went the extra mile for the big day. “I wanted to wear a colour I normally don’t find the courage to wear—a striking sunny yellow. I made a free size voluminous choga [a loose, anarkali-esque kurta] with churidar and dupatta with tribal dori work,” she reveals. The matching dupatta was further accented with red piping, which perfectly coordinated with the groom’s oxblood Nehru jacket layered over an ivory kurta set and turban. The bride topped off her bridal ensemble with a pair of gold hasli-style necklace, earrings and a maang tikka, but added a touch of nostalgia with some heirloom pieces. “I was most excited to wear my mother-in-laws' wedding nath and my mother’s kangan.” Her hair was styled in a braided bun adorned with red roses, and makeup was highlighted with lightly kohled eyes and red lips.

“We plan on hosting a wedding reception, once things are better and when my sister is able to fly in from the States,” signs off Ragini Ahuja who has settled into the new normal, and has also resumed working at her atelier.

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