Stars to fix starry wedding

Families of Vivek Oberoi and Priyanka Alva will finalise their engagement date by next week depending on the position of stars and a formal meeting.

Families of Vivek Oberoi and Priyanka Alva will finalise their engagement date by next week depending on the position of stars and a formal meeting.

"The date is not yet decided. It depends on the dashas and the samaya. But it will surely be sometime soon," said the matchmaker, Padmini Ravi, noted Bharatnatyam dancer.

City astrologer Dr SK Jain agreed that fixing the engagement date based on the position of stars and the moon would be the right thing to do.

Astrologer Dr SK Jain and Padmini Ravi.

"According to me, August 27 is an auspicious day. It is a Friday and has Gajakesari yoga. On that day, the Jupiter and the moon can be seen together in the sky. Even Lord Rama was born on the same yoga," said Jain.

Padmini revealed that all decisions about the marriage dates would be taken keeping in mind the discretion of both the Oberoi and Alva families.

Asked if the sudden media attention and the speculation were disturbing the would-be bride, Padmini said, "She is used to media glare as she is born in a family of industrialists, artistes and ministers.

She is a very private and secure person and has her own technique of being detached from such talks."

Padmini also denied that any rumours about Vivek bothered Priyanka.

"They are very comfortable with each other, and everybody has a past. You can't judge someone based on that. Priyanka knows that marriage comes with a lot of baggage, but knows how to deal with it."

Simple and soft-spoken, Priyanka Alva is a trained Bharatnatyam and Kathak dancer. She has also been trained in Hindustani and Western classical vocals since childhood.

"She is an artiste but doesn't want to make it her profession. She wanted to do an MBA in Social Policy but as of now that plan is shelved because of the wedding," said Padmini.