'Bengal Tiger' Rajbansi meets his match
It was a wedding of royal proportions. The couple sat stiffly on carved thrones, echoing colours of diamonds and pearls in front of the who's who of KwaZulu-Natal.
Photographers darted in front of the raised stage, cameras flashing, as Minority Front leader and provincial MP Amichand Rajbansi married his second-in-command Shameen Thakur.
The pensive-looking bride arrived in a champagne-coloured Mercedes Benz adorned with yellow, orange, purple, red and white garlands of flowers, hooter blaring. She was quickly whisked into the Riverside Conference Centre to await the ceremony.
Dignitaries included KwaZulu-Natal Premier Lionel Mtshali, Minister of Social Welfare Prince Gideon Zulu, Minister of Housing Dumisani Makhaye, Minister of Economic Development and Tourism Michael Mabuyakhulu and Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize.
Other important guests included Durban Unicity Speaker Nomusa Dube and Deputy Mayor Logie Naidoo, as well as entertainment guru Sunny Guyaden.
Rajbansi, surrounded by his daughters, family and those close to him, stood outside as his future wife's family conducted the formal welcome or Samdhi Milan.
Standing next to him, dressed in an identical cream Nehru suit fringed with gold braiding, stood his grandson, Avinesh, while playing among the guests was Thakur's 10-year-old son, Pradhil.
As the elderly members of the community sang the ritual prayers welcoming Rajbansi into the family, Minister of Education and Culture Faith Gasa quietly slipped into the background.
Thakur made her way slowly across the courtyard, her hand clasped in her brother's. Her sari, a rose-coloured organza creation shot with gold, gleamed in the sunlight as she seemed to float up the stairs to the waiting guests.
Thakur has known Rajbansi since 1998, when they were introduced to each other by Rajbansi's daughter, Vimlesh. An avid follower of politics, Thakur soon endeared herself to the Minority Front and became Rajbansi's second-in-command.
After his acrimonious and highly-publicised divorce from Asha Devi last year, Rajbansi's colleagues showed concern and suggested he re-marry.
Bedecked in jewellery and an elaborate head-dress, the bride looked nervous and tense throughout the two-hour ceremony, her face barely showing a smile.
Rajbansi's four daughters and other female relatives presented gifts of jewellery, clothes, shoes and sweetmeats to the bride, while Thakur's female relatives presented ornate suits, a watch and other valuables to the groom
The couple reduced the costs of their wedding so they could donate R30 000 towards the needy. They will be donating R10 000 to the Blind and Deaf Society, R5 000 to the Food For Life feeding scheme, R5 000 each to the Chatsworth and Phoenix Child Welfare Societies and R5 000 to the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund.
After a R50 000 buffet dinner, the newlyweds leave for two honeymoons. The first is to a local resort, followed by a sea cruise among the Greek Isles in the Mediterranean.