MUMBAI, 22 November (H.S.): Star Indian cricketer and World Cup winner Smriti Mandhana celebrated her haldi ceremony on Friday in a joyous and colorful event, surrounded by her family, friends, and several teammates from the national cricket team. The celebration marks the beginning of the final festivities ahead of her much-anticipated wedding to music composer and filmmaker Palash Muchhal, reportedly set for November 23.
The haldi ceremony turned into a high-spirited dance festival as Mandhana, dressed in a bright yellow ensemble, was joined by her World Cup-winning teammates. Players including Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Renuka Singh, and Shreyanka Patil were in attendance, all clad in matching yellow outfits.
Videos that quickly went viral on social media showed the cricketers dancing with abandon to dhol beats, showcasing the close camaraderie that extends beyond the cricket pitch.The wedding buzz was amplified recently when Palash shared a heartfelt video of his proposal to Smriti.
In a grand romantic gesture, he went down on one knee at the iconic DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai—the very ground where the Indian women's team lifted the World Cup trophy—and slipped a diamond ring on her finger. The emotional moment, captioned She said yes, captured the hearts of fans and drew congratulations from across the cricket and entertainment industries.
The couple, whose relationship began in 2019, had kept their romance private until 2024. The wedding date was officially revealed in a congratulatory note from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who wished the pair a harmonious life, poetically noting that the grace of Smriti's cover drive meets the musical symphony of Palash in a wonderful partnership.
As the couple prepares for their new innings, the celebrations reflect a beautiful union of India's sporting and artistic worlds.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
