December 2024 & January 2025

As the wedding approached, with only two months remaining, the families became increasingly busy. Their efforts included printing and dispatching invitation cards, which were sent to temples, especially their family deities (kuldevtas), as well as significant religious centers like the Kanchi Shankaracharya Matham and the Srirangam Srimad Andavan Ashram.

The bride and groom's families opted to gift wedding guests a steel container embossed with a custom logo. This led to a joint trip to the Bhuleshwar steel vessel wholesale market, where they selected and ordered the containers. The shopkeeper agreed to deliver them directly to the wedding venue, BAPS.

During this time, frequent visits to tailors were necessary for fittings, style consultations, and to ensure all clothing was completed well in advance of the wedding.

In the second week of January, Geetha arranged for her parents, who lived in Kalyan, to move to Dosti Wadala, where Priya's family resided.

The Mangli pondugal, a significant traditional ceremony for women, was conducted at Priya's residence in the last week of January, with close relatives invited. This ceremony is traditionally performed at the bride's home prior to the wedding and at the groom's home following it.

A week before the wedding, Mehndi ceremonies, a popular pre-wedding event, were held at both Priya's and Sanjiv's homes, attended by immediate family and close relatives. The families also planned a larger Mehndi event for all wedding guests at the venue on the eve of the wedding.

Throughout the preparations, Suresh consistently stressed the importance of completing all planned activities at least two weeks before the wedding. By following this advice, the families ensured that the majority, if not all, of the major tasks were completed well ahead of schedule.

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