Aug 31 2015.
views 1462What is ‘Vismaya’?
Vismaya is an event management company which specialises in conducting Hindu weddings. We are team of five people and we have our own wedding cars, video & photography, and Manavarai sets. We also have team of musicians and Hindu priests. We undertake wedding arrangements in Colombo, Jaffna, Killinochi and Vavuniya. Vismaya means 'amazing' in Sanskrit and we conduct amazing wedding ceremonies for our clients.
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As an event planner, how do you plan a wedding in keeping with the traditions and customs?
We always give priority to the traditions and customs; however we configure innovative ideas to enter into the process by the way of rules, traditional beliefs or customary norms. As Hindu wedding planners we plan every step very carefully, not disrupting the Hindu traditions or customs. We always get the best advice from our priest from the temple because he has experience and knows the true procedure of the wedding ceremony.
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What are some unusual traditions you’ll have had to organize?
Sometimes we have to do some unusual traditions in Hindu weddings such as Mehndi event, which is not followed in Sri Lankan Hindu weddings. However upon the request of the client, we arrange a professional mehndi artist to do the event. Recently in one of the wedding ceremony we brought the bride on an elephant to the Temple. We hired an elephant from Anuradhapura and bought it to Jaffna to use it on that day.
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What do you enjoy about being an event planner?
In reality, it’s hard work. It involves a lot of pressure and long, long hours to ensure everything goes to plan. Flexibility is key and you need to be prepared to work relentlessly and for as long as necessary to ensure that everything is ready on time for the event. Moreover, when the event is in full swing, there is often no time to relax (or even sometimes to eat). However at the end of the day you execute an event successfully to meet your client's objectives and make them happy and joyful. The success of the event makes you happier than the client and that's the time you enjoy most.
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In your belief, how important is it to stick to the traditions and customs handed down through generations?
I believe customs and traditions should be followed by generations to keep your cultural identity. As a Sri Lankan Hindu wedding planner you can showcase the traditions on the wedding day to educate other cultures about your own culture. This is very important for others to respect your traditions and norms. At the end of the day you make your client happy and be proud of yourself that you conducted a traditional Hindu wedding successfully.
Interviewed by Panchali Illankoon
1 Comments
Navneet Khokhar says:
May 26, 2018 at 07:00 pmHi, I am looking for a hindu wedding in Sri Lanka. We will be a group of 10 people. This will be June end or 1st week of July. Can you please help? Regards, Navneet