Hurley, Nayar play cricket with guests

Jodhpur, March 8 (IANS) Wearing a pink sari, British model-actress Liz Hurley and her Indian-born businessman husband Arun Nayar played a cricket match with their guests under floodlights at the opulent Umaid Bhawan Palace Hotel here. The celebrity couple, who arrived in this city Wednesday evening, are going to tie the knot again in traditional Indian style Friday. Hurley and Nayar married at a private ceremony in England on March 3.'A cricket match under floodlights was played in the hotel premises and a pitch had been constructed specially for the purpose,' sources at Hotel Umaid Bhawan Palace, booked by the couple from March 7 to 10, told IANS.Nayar's team defeated Hurley's in the match. A 'mehndi' (henna) ceremony was held after the cricket match, hotel sources said. The henna was brought from Sojat in Pali district of Rajasthan. Sojat henna is well known for its rich colour.Sources at the hotel said the couple are staying in Maharaja suite. They are to visit the 4th century Nagaur Fort, over 137 km north of here, Thursday with their guests and spend the night in the 125 luxury Swiss tents erected specially for them. They will return Friday afternoon after which there would be a sangeet ceremony to be followed by an Indian-style wedding. A special platform has been constructed at the hotel for the ceremony.'Five priests would first blow the conch shell after which the couple would tie the knot amid the chanting of Vedic mantras. The couple would take rounds of the holy fire after which they would be asked to make seven promises,' sources added.Over 250 guests are likely to be part of the wedding celebrations. After the ceremony, all the guests would be taken to Mehrangarh Fort nearby. They would be received at the entrance gate in traditional style with the shenai and dhol (drum) playing. The couple would be taken up to the fort in a specially made palanquin.The gala dinner at Mehrangarh fort, built in 1459, will have a typical Rajasthani ambience with folk singers performing all through. A variety of food - from continental, Mexican and Rajasthani - would be served. © 2007 Indo-Asian News Service