20 May,2011 06:28 AM IST | | Vivek Sabnis
80,000 guests expected as Mahadev Babar's daughter ties knot at 'Rs 2.5 cr, Disney-themed' function
Fifteen acres of farmland in Kondhwa will be turned into a Disney World of sorts on Sunday for the wedding of MLA Mahadev Babar's daughter.
Come one, come all: The invitation card for the wedding
The politician is reportedly spending no less than Rs 2.5 crore on the wedding and has invited all voters from his constituency (MiD DAY has a copy of the wedding card) to the grand, Disney-themed function.
Babar Mala, the venue of the wedding, undergoes a transformation
According to Babar's party workers, he has invited around 80,000 people for the grand wedding. Insiders said around 600 VIPs and VVIPs have been presented a dress and sari as the aamantran (invitation) gift.u00a0Invitations have been given to all PMC corporators and city MLAs, who shall be given a turban as a mark of prestige.
The arrangements underway inside the pandal. Pics/Jignesh Mistry
"All women invitees shall be given a blouse piece as is customary," said Mahendra Bhojane, a party worker. "Over 200 workers are distributing the invitations in Kondhwa and elsewhere in the city. The guests will feast on 80 different kinds of items as part of the buffet."
Rs 25 lakh pandal
A huge pandal is being put up at the wedding venue by Mote Mandavwale and the work shall continue till Saturday night. The pandal will cover 16,000 sq feet and a huge entrance themed on Disney World is being designed. "This is the biggest-ever pandal we have built," said a site supervisor. "The entire cost of the pandal will go to Rs 25 lakh."
22 trees chopped
A resident of the area said Babar Mala (farm) was being vacated for the first time and around 22 trees had been chopped. "The workers have mercilessly axed around 22 trees to build the pandal," said Siddharth Lohar, a resident. Bhanudas Mane, Deputy Commissioner, PMC Garden department, said, "We have filed a case against Babar for violating the Maharashtra Preservation of Tree Act, 1965, as 22 babul trees were cut in the farm."
Denying all allegations, Mahadev Babar said nobody had the right to criticise him for making the wedding a big public event. "This is my private affair and nobody can say anything about it. I have invited my voters and they are like celebrities to me," he said.
