The Imperial Wedding (Closed; invite-only)

[Syrixia]

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IMPERIAL WEDDING TO OCCUR IN ONE MONTH​

by Vikram Mehta in Pataliputra
September 10, 1999

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The section of the Golden Palace courtyard where the Rakanist ceremony is to be held.​

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PATALIPUTRA – Earlier this year, as 1998 became 1999, the official Fluttr account for the Golden Palace released a shocking announcement: HH the Crown Prince had become engaged to a little-known noble from Goyanes, one Lady Astrid Kjellse-Tages-Athelstein.

In 1992, HM the Emperor and the Imperial Family visited Goyanes to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of the Fascist Wars. For centuries, the Empire and Goyanes were fierce enemies, until the Fascist Wars, when the two nations buried the hatchet to combat the Dominion Powers. The final peace treaty was signed, in which Andrenne, the most powerful Dominion state and the last to surrender, was subdued; and the Empire and Goyanes have been close allies ever since.

It is believed that the Crown Prince met Astrid during the commemoration festivities in Goyanes. A fourth cousin of Grand Emperor Anthony of Goyanes, Astrid is related to the Kjellse-Tages family through her father, the late Ken Kjellse-Tages, with her mother Kristen being from the Athelstein family, a prestigious family in the country. Since then, for the next six years, they dated, quickly becoming darlings of the media in both countries.

The long-awaited announcement of their engagement stated that there would be a wedding soon, but did not provide much information on when and where it would be located. However, following yesterday's more recent post, we can now confirm that the wedding will be taking place just a month from now; and it will be nationally televised in both countries, on multiple networks.

There will be two ceremonies: a Rakanist ceremony in Pataliputra followed by a Courantist ceremony in Lady Astrid's native Goyanes. Grand Emperor Anthony will be in attendance for the Courantist ceremony, whilst Goyanean Prime Minister Jon Norberg will be in attendance for both. TM the Emperor and Empress will be in attendance for both ceremonies, while Diwan Sahab will be attending the Rakanist ceremony.

In addition, a joint GRK-IBC news team will be serving as a commentative panel throughout the events of the wedding, from the initial moments to end of the festivities. Members of the panel will include broadcast veterans such as Gunnar Johansson and Bharti Shailaja.

Translation by Sucheta Sharma
September 10, 1999

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[Goyanes]

Lady Astrid van Kjellse-Tages-Athelstein to marry Crown Prince of Syrixia in one month
The baroness is to be wed to the heir apparent of the Syrixian throne at two ceremonies in October

Jorgen Rødeberg -- Gojannesstad, Nyhett -- September 10, 2018

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Saint Ingolfr the Great's Cathedral in Gojannesstad, where the Courantist ceremonies are to be held.
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The household secretary of the house of Kjellse-Tages announced yesterday that Lady Astrid Kjellse-Tages-Athelstein would be wed to the Crown Prince of Syrixia, Bhudev, in October. The household secretary also made it clear that there would be two ceremonies. There will be a Rakanist ceremony on the grounds of the Emperor's Palace in Syrixia, and a Courantist Ceremony in St. Ingolfr the Great's Cathedral in Gojannesstad.

The two met several years ago at the 70th Annual Victory Day ceremonies when a Syrixian delegation comprising of the Emperor himself and several other relatives visited Goyanes to celebrate with the Grand Emperor. Since then, Lady Astrid has been traveling back and forth, and recently, it was announced that they had become engaged.

The Grand Emperor will attend the Courantist ceremony along with the Syrixian Emperor and Prime Minister Jon Norberg. Jon Norberg will be in attendance at the Rakanist ceremonies as well in Pataliputra.

Lady Astrid declined to comment, saying that the Household Secretary's report provided all the information needed.

 

[Syrixia]

"And we're on in 5...4...3..."

Bharti Shailaja, the longtime IBC news anchor, briefly bowed her head and put her hands together- a Syrixian greeting of kindness. "Achchha svaasthi, friends," she stated calmly, repeating her her standard greeting to the audience, "and welcome to IBC and GRK's live coverage of the Imperial Wedding of His Highness the Crown Prince and Lady Astrid Kjellse-Tages-Athelstein."

Bharti turned slightly towards Gunnar Johansson, the lead GRK anchor on the joint coverage team. "Joining me from Goyanes is GRK anchor Gunnar Johansson, and Gunnar, we've got a very lovely Rakanist ceremony coming up, followed by the Courantist ceremony a couple days later." she continued, issuing a subtle verbal signal for Gunnar to chime in.

 

[Goyanes]

Gunnar looked towards the cameras, and carried on.

"God morgen, or Good Morning to our international audience. We will be commenting on today's wedding between Lady Athelstein and Crown Prince Bhudev. We are broadcasting live from Pataliputra in the lawn of the Golden Palace, and it seems all the preparations have been completed in advance of the wedding. The rituals should get going any minute now."

 

[Syrixia]

Sri Guru Maharaj Bipinbhai Bhatt was a old man, and a stern man, but he was also a man of God. Serving on the council of six gurus that ran the Great Temple in Meru City, he was one of the most eminent and respected figures in global Rakanism- indeed, only members of the council of six held the title Guru Maharaj. He therefore was a natural choice for the Emperor to pick to officiate the wedding of his eldest son. Bhatt had done weddings for the Imperial House before, which was why he was a natural choice. No doubt the newspeople were covering his proceedings, glaring at those gathered from their buildings in their silk suits and vests. Minutes earlier, the Crown Prince's baraat- his wedding procession- had ended. Guarded by a motorcade and witnessed by droves of spectators, the Prince had come to the Golden Palace on an elephant. Soon the bride would arrive as well, in the customary red sari; and sure enough, at that moment, Astrid rounded the corner and was entering the courtyard.

The wedding mandap, a temporary structure constructed for the purpose of the marriage ceremony, was laced with green and blue decorations- colors symbolizing the Empire and Goyanes. It was set upon on an elevated platform in the Golden Palace's courtyards, and was lavishly decorated with flowers, fabrics, and crystals. In the center of the mandap, a fire was kindled. A Rakanist marriage is a sacrament, not a contract, and to signify the viability of the ceremony, fire is kept as a witness and offerings are made, usually by the bride's brother- in this case, one Sven Kjellse-Tages. Sven gave three fistfuls of puffed rice to Astrid as a wish for her happy marriage.

In turn, she threw it into the fire as an offering. Then, the next ceremony within the proceedings began, in which Bhudev and Astrid exchanged floral garlands. This ceremony, known as Jai Mala, expressed the desire of the couple to marry each other. Bhatt knew the symbolism behind this well- Rakanist weddings and their ceremonies were laced with symbolism. After this, it was the father of the bride's- Ken Kjellse-Tages'- turn; he did kanyadaan- giving the bride away; for in the Rakanist tradition, no man can claim a woman as a bride until she is offered to the groom by her father. During the kanyadaan, Ken placed Astrid's hands into Bhudev's as a gesture of giving her away.

Then came the final ceremony, with three steps. First, mangalsutra- Bhudev placed a necklace of black and gold beads on Astrid, to symbolize luck and happiness. Then rakshabandhan occurred- the tying of cords to the wrists of both the bride and the groom, for marriage is considered to be an arduous stage in life, and the cords are meant as protection. The final step then came; the most ancient marriage rite in Rakanism: the satkadam- the Seven Steps, taken around the holy fire, to symbolize friendship. As Bhudev and Astrid did so, they stated the ancient vows of matrimony to each other in Suchari.

"As we take the Seven Steps, you become mine forever, and I have become yours. Hereafter, I cannot live without you. Do not live without me. Let us share the joys. We are word and meaning, united. You are thought and I am sound. May the night be honey-sweet for us. May the morning be honey-sweet for us. May the Eras be honey-sweet for us. May the heavens be honey-sweet for us. May the plants be honey-sweet for us. May the sun be all honey for us. As the heavens are stable, as the Eras is stable, as the mountains are stable, as the whole universe is stable, so may our union be permanently settled."

As they finished the seventh step, they faced the crowd, and then turned to each other. Bhatt stepped forward. With happiness, he uttered, "Tum shaadee suda ho!" - "You are now married!" Following this, Bhudev and Astrid kissed, and the crowd stood, giving a resounding applause. The couple's festivities, however, were not over- it was now time for them to head to Goyanes for the second wedding, not before the sacred fire, but before Christ.

 

[Goyanes]

The Cathedral of St. Ingolfr in Gojannesstad was the seat of one of the largest Courantist populations on Eras. The grand church, with seating for thousands, was an imposing structure, built in a neo-gothic style. The wedding would be officiated by the Archbishop of Gojannesstad, Sigurt Åndsby. He only reluctantly agreed, due to the fact that the groom was neither Messianist, nor Courantist. He knew he'd have to confess after this one. He waited by the altar with the groom, who, in his opinion, looked comical in a Goyanean-tailored suit. However now was not the time to reel in such minute details, the procession was to begin.

The 6,000 pipes of the great cathedral organ sprang to life as the Procession of the Mothers began. In filed Lady Astrid's mother, genuflecting before the crucifix, and then Bhudev's mother, the Empress of Syrixia. The bridesmaids came next, positioning themselves by the Altar opposite Bhudev and the Archbishop. Finally, was Lady Astrid herself, walked in by her father. He gave her to Bhudev before the Altar, symbolizing the consent of marrying off his daughter, before returning to the pews to sit with his wife.

They all took their seats, and the fiancees sat before the altars. Father Åndsby began with his opening prayers, and proceeded to the readings of the Holy Bible. Each reading was preceded and succeeded by a great fanfare of the organ. Now came the moment everyone was waiting for.

The couple was invited to stand, and before they exchanged their vows, the priest asked them three questions.
"Bhudev and Astrid, have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage?"
"Will you honor each other as man and wife for rest the of your lives?"
"Will you accept children lovingly from God, and bring them up according to the law of Christ and his church?”

They answered yes to each, and the vows began. Astrid said hers first. "I, Astrid, take you, Bhudev, for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part." After putting her ring on Bhudev, he said his vows. "I, Bhudev, take you, Astrid, for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part." He slipped his ring on her finger.

After they exchanged vows, they lit the marital candle together in a ceremony symbolizing the flame of the Holy Spirit, then engaged in prayer and blessings from the priest.

Now came the moment everyone was waiting for. The Archbishop proclaimed, "You may now kiss the bride!" As the organ played a grand fanfare, Bhudev and Astrid engaged in a kiss, while those in attendance clapped. After this, there was a joyous procession outside, into the cool fall air of Goyanes.