News Summary
Soumitri Barua and Vishal Khetpal hosted a grand multicultural wedding in Boston, embracing their Buddhist and Hindu heritages. The festivities included a boat arrival for the sangeet and a unique blend of rituals, culminating in a vibrant reception. With family ties spanning from New York to Texas, the couple’s shared passion for literature was reflected in curated book favors for guests. Expert planning and decorative inspiration from ‘Bridgerton’ made their wedding a memorable celebration of love and cultural unity.
Boston – Soumitri Barua and Vishal Khetpal celebrated their love in a grand two-day multicultural wedding in Boston, blending their Buddhist and Hindu cultural heritages. The couple, who met while studying medicine at Brown University, chose the city for their wedding to stay close to family, with Soumitri hailing from upstate New York and Vishal’s family from greater Dallas and Oklahoma.
The couple became romantically involved after spotting each other in the library at Brown University. They chose to remain in the area for their residencies, pursuing careers in neurology and cardiology. Their engagement took place during a trip to Switzerland in June 2023, setting the stage for their upcoming nuptials.
The wedding festivities kicked off with a baraat procession and sangeet celebration at the InterContinental Boston, where the couple and their wedding party arrived by boat. This arrival added a unique flair, leading to an evening filled with dance performances. The following day at the Fairmont Copley Plaza, a serene Buddhist ceremony was held alongside Hindu rituals, culminating in a vibrant reception.
Soumitri expressed her affection for the Fairmont Copley Plaza’s grand ballroom and Oval Room, drawing aesthetic inspiration from the popular series “Bridgerton.” The wedding decor was brought to life by Erica Jones of O Luxe Design, who created an on-theme mandap for the ceremony. Notably, the flowers at the reception consisted of red blooms, symbolizing good fortune in Indian-South Asian weddings.
Attire was an integral aspect of the celebration, with Soumitri donning a stunning sari from Papa Don’t Preach for the sangeet and matching outfits from Nitika Gujral for the wedding ceremony. For the reception, she wore a breathtaking lehenga by Seema Gujral. A symbolic gesture of unity between their families was represented when Soumitri’s mother fed Vishal and his parents Indian sweets and water.
In a thoughtful touch reflective of their shared passion for literature, the couple opted to give guests curated book favors from their local bookstore, Heartleaf Books, with each guest receiving two books significant to the couple’s backgrounds and interests. Boston Water Taxi facilitated stylish transportation for guests arriving from Logan Airport to the InterContinental hotel.
The couple’s wedding included live music, featuring violinist Pavani Anupindi, hired through the Young Indian Professionals of New England. Additionally, the couple curated a playlist that included an Indian song from “Bridgerton,” which played during Soumitri’s entrance.
The wedding was meticulously planned over several months, seeing the efforts of various vendors. Ceremony aspects were officiated by Buddhist monks led by Bhanteh Nirodh, while the Hindu rituals were conducted by Hindu Priest Pandit Hemant. For the festivities, Mint to Be Events handled the planning, and transportation services were provided by Yankee Line and Boston Water Taxi. DJ Vibez Entertainment amplified the celebration with a lively musical atmosphere, while Beauty by Tasnim was responsible for hair and makeup services.
Overall, the celebration beautifully showcased the couple’s love for each other as well as their commitment to their cultural roots, making it a memorable event for their families and friends.
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Additional Resources
- Boston Magazine: Bridgerton Wedding
- Wikipedia: Wedding
- Boston Globe: Asian Faiths
- Google Search: Asian Faiths and Symbols
- American Kahani: Hindu Priest
- Google Scholar: Hindu Priest
- Patriot Ledger: House of Blues
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Bridge
- Patriot Ledger: House of Blues
- Google News: Boston Music Scene
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PROVIDENCE STAFF WRITER The PROVIDENCE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREProvidence.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Providence, Providence County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as WaterFire, Rhode Island International Film Festival, and Rhode Island Comic Con. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, plus leading businesses in finance and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Citizens Financial Group and Textron. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Rhode Island's dynamic landscape.
