Rs 70 Lakh Fireworks, Garland Exchange In Restricted Temple Area: BJP MLA’s Son Extravagant Indore Wedding Sparks Debate

New Delhi: Wedding extravaganza in India is hardly news, but the things reach eye-popping proportions when families spend lakhs on not jewellery, venue, clothes, or even catering but for firecrackers. But that is exactly what happened in Indore recently. For the wedding of Anjanesh Shukla, son of BJP Golu Shukla, where the family reportedly spent upwards of Rs. 70 lakhs on lighting up the sky with firecrackers on December 12.

The family was at the centre of controversy not only because of the Rs 70 lakh fireworks display, but also because the wedding included a garland exchange ceremony at the sanctum of Khajrana Ganesh Temple, a restricted area.

Despite long-standing restrictions that prohibit devotees from entering the sanctum sanctorum, the MLA's son and daughter-in-law were filmed standing there, exchanging garlands before the idol of Lord Ganesha.

Furthermore, the wedding itself had already been surrounded by controversy due to its extravagant scale.

The video shared by Rudraksh Shukla, brother of the groom, shows the stunning display going up during the jaimala ceremony, however the price of firecrackers are not mentioned in the video.

The no-expense-spared wedding has not only gone viral on social media for the elaborate decor and the expensive wedding regalia adorned by the bride, groom, and the family, but the has also garnered some negative comments from the netizens with people questioning a video of the couple exchanging garlands before the deity at Khajrana temple in Indore in an area that are usually out of bounds for the public. The family is yet to react on the rumours and no formal statement confirming or denying the rumours have been made yet.

One user commented, “VIP culture, corruption, misuse of public facilities by politicians and the rich….. no accountability for approval givers for breaking and bending law. Can we implement minimum 10 years rigorous imprisonment and hefty fines for misuse of authority by public officials?” Another one said, “Choose your representatives wisely!”

'Not New To Controversies'

The Shukla family had courted controversies earlier as well when the MLA's younger son, Rudraksh Shukla, allegedly forced his way into the sanctum sanctorum of the Mahakal Temple in Ujjain in July. When temple employee Ashish Dubey tried to stop him, Rudraksh allegedly threatened him. The MLA was also in the temple when this happened.

Earlier in April, Rudraksh and his companions reached Mata Tekri in Dewas and allegedly got into a dispute with the priest over opening the temple doors late at night for 'darshan'. As the matter escalated, Rudraksh had to issue an apology.

Also Read: One of Luthra Brothers Complains Of Chest Pain, Rushed to Hospital