CMs of Assam, Nagaland, Arunachal and Sikkim to attend
TURA: Fresh bouquets of flowers surrounded by colourful drapes around the seating venue of the bride and groom, spacious seating arrangements for guests and a flutter of activity across the venue at Walbakgre in Tura reveal the hectic preparations under way for the wedding of Tura MP Agatha K Sangma on Thursday.
Dozens of supporters and well wishers have been thronging the home of Late PA Sangma at Walbakgre locality of New Tura for the past few weeks to lend a helping hand for the biggest wedding in the family.
Agatha will be getting married to a medical doctor Patrick S R Marak at the Sacred Heart Shrine church in Tura Chandmari at 11 am of Thursday which will be followed by a reception at her residence while dining has been elaborately arranged for the hundreds of guests at next door Green Haven resort. As many as four state chief ministers, deputy chief ministers and senior political leaders from across the political stream have reportedly informed the family of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma that they will be attending the wedding reception.
Among the VVIPs who have confirmed their arrival are Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu and the new Chief minister of Sikkim state Prem Singh Tamang aka PS Goloy. They are expected to arrive by chopper on the wedding day. Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur Y Joykumar Singh, senior Assam minister Hemanta Biswa Sharma, NPP legislators from Meghalaya led by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong and several others from the Northeastern states, particularly Manipur, are also due to arrive in Tura. The BJP delegation to the wedding from the state is being led by Cabinet Minister A L Hek.
Tura, despite having several home stays and guest houses, alongside a handful of hotels, have been booked up to accommodate the invited guests. A number of Congress legislators from the state, including Himalaya Shangpliang, Kimfa Marbaniang, W Shylla, Gavin Mylliem and George Lyngdoh are also expected at the wedding, inform family members of Agatha Sangma.
Wedding sans gifts
In a first for a wedding in Tura, the family of PA Sangma has requested the guests not to bring any gifts or flowers to the reception other than their blessings and well wishes. Instead of receiving presents, Agatha’s family has welcomed anyone who wishes to give a gift to donate to the PA Sangma Foundation, which will take up the cause of education of children and the youth. Facilities are being made available at the wedding venue for those wishing to donate for children’s education.