CHANDIGARH: Left-hander Yuvraj Singh is getting married to British-Mauritian model and actor Hazel Keech on November 30 at a quiet ceremony at a gurdwara in the small town of Fatehgarh Sahib in Punjab. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has been personally invited by Yuvraj may attend the wedding, as he did for Yuvi’s friend and fellow cricketer Harbhajan Singh. But Yuvi’s own father will not.
A family friend said the main ceremony of the wedding will be performed in a gurdwara in Fategarh Sahib and that only about 50 people, including family members and close friends have been invited.
Yograj Singh, Yuvraj’s father and former actor-cricketer, said he would not attend the wedding ceremony as he was against it being solemnised by a dera leader, “as he believes in god, not religious leaders.” Yograj Singh and Yuvraj’s mother Shabnam were divorced years ago, after which Yuvraj chose to stay with his mother.
Yuvraj’s mother Shabnam Singh is a devotee of Sant Ajit Singh Hansaliwale, who has been his religious mentor. The Dera Hansaliwale is located in the village Hansali near Fategarh Sahib. After the wedding, the couple is likely to take the blessing of the religious leader at the dera.
Sources close to the family say the mehndi and the first reception party will be held at Hotel Lalit in Chandigarh on November 29, which his father Yograj will attend, Players of both the Indian and England cricket teams, which are playing their second Test match in Mohali are likely to attend the reception if the test match gets over on the fourth day — November 29. If the match gets over as per schedule, on November 30, then Yuvraj plans to throw a special dinner for his fellow teammates and English players at Hotel Lalit that night, sources say.
The hotel authorities have made elaborate arrangements for the various functions and security around the venue has been beefed-up as both the cricket teams are already staying in the same hotel.
There is also talk that if the Test match gets over in four days, then some players might go to Fatehgarh Sahib on November 30 morning to attend the wedding. Sources say that Sachin Tendulkar whom Yuvraj is close to would be present at his wedding ceremony.
The wedding will be performed not just as per Sikh rites but also Hindu rituals, two days later. “On December 2, Yuvraj and Hazel will wed according to Hindu rituals. This ceremony is set to take place at a farm house in Goa again where limited guests have been invited for a lunch reception.
The Sangeet will be held at a farm house in Charatpur in Delhi on December 5, and finally a grand reception party on December 7 at five-star hotel ITC Maurya in Delhi,”’ said an insider.
At both the reception and sangeet functions in Delhi, the who’s who of both Bollywood and the cricketing world, besides other dignitaries are expected. It is learnt that Bollywood choreographer/director Farah Khan will choreograph the Sangeet ceremony.