The big-bang Gadkari wedding celebrations

Nagpur is celebrating the wedding of BJP President Nitin Gadkari's 26-year-old son Nikhil, who got married to 22-year-old Rutuja Pathak at the Rajwada Palace Hotel, on Thursday morning with 2000 guests in attendance.

But that was small.

For Friday night's reception, 15,000 guests joined the festivities at the Vidarbha Cricket Association ground. BJP chief ministers were present; senior party leaders like LK Advani attended. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi arrived on a chartered flight. BJP MP and actor Hema Malini was also seen.

The other bigwigs who attended the ceremony are BJP leader LK Advani, warring Thackerays - Raj and Uddhav, television actor Smruti Irani and Poonam Dhillon, NCP's Chhagan Bhujbal. Also present were the Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, controversy ridden Karnataka Chief Minister Yeddyurappa, and Rajnath Singh.

Among the big-gun industrialists present were the Hinduja brothers, Rahul Bajaj. BCCI President Shashank Manohar and President Pratibha Patil's son and state MLA Rajendra Shekhawat also graced the occasion.

Fourteen helicopters have been registered for landings by some VIPs. Gadkari reportedly has another three helicopters on stand-by.

For those left out, another reception on Saturday at Resham Bagh grounds will stretch from 11 am to 7 pm.

The Orange City has been decked up for the big-ban wedding celebration which will last for four days.

Gadkari and his wife, Kanchan, received the 2000 guests at the wedding on Thursday who had gathered to congratulate the couple. BJP senior leader Venkaiah Naidu was among those spotted at the venue.

The four-day wedding celebrations started on Wednesday evening with a pre-wedding function - a seemaan poojan where family members of the bride and the groom are formally introduced to each other.

Another reception, for guests from Nagpur and neighbouring areas, is slated for 11 am on Saturday in Reshambag. More than a lakh guests are expected to attend it.

Wedding invitations were extended to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, sources said.

Commissioner of police, Ankush Dhanvijay, had told a press conference on November 26 that there is a threat perception about a possible Naxal attack during the wedding.

A three-tier cordon comprising over 9,000 policemen and 1,200 officers would guard the city during the wedding.