PTI

Mumbai, Apr 20: Billed as the wedding of the year, Bollywood's hottest stars Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai exchanged nuptial vows at a colourful but extremely private ceremony on Friday evening.

A high-profile wedding

Abhishek(31 ) and Aishwarya (33) entered into wedlock in a north Indian style ceremony with the golden couple exchanging garlands at Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan's family home "Prateeksha". Priests from Benares conducted the rituals.

The ceremony held on the auspicious day of Akshay Tritiya climaxed three days of festivities starting from a Sangeet function on Wednesday and the traditional Mehndi ceremony on Thursday.

From reel life to real life

The who's who of India's rich and famous including movie stars, top industrialists and politicians graced the occasion. They included Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, Bollywood actors Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgan, Kajol and close friends of the Bachchans, Anil and Tina Ambani and Amar Singh and Sachin Tendulkar.

The function was held at a huge air-conditioned pandal in a garden adjoining the Bachchan's family home. Red and pink flowers, encircled by gold and green curtains covered the tent.

Before the start of the wedding rituals, Abhishek came in a baraat from another of Bachchan's family residence "Jalsa", close to the marriage venue. Dressed in a gold-embroidered white sherwani and with his face covered with a frill of flowers, Bollywood's Bunty rode a colourfully decorated white horse with his nephew Agastya sitting in front of him. Aishwarya was believed to be wearing a Lehenga designed by Nita Lulla.

Tight security has been put in place for the function which is expected to go on till late tonight. Police had a tough time keeping away hundreds of curious onlookers and had to resort to a mild lathi-charge near "Prateeksha".