Bachchans, Ash pray at Varanasi temples

Ash took part in pujas along with the Bachchan clan at the Kashi Viswanath temple early Monday morning.

Ash took part in pujas along with the Bachchan clan at the Kashi Viswanath temple early Monday morning.Ash took part in pujas along with the Bachchan clan at the Kashi Viswanath temple early Monday morning.Ash took part in pujas along with the Bachchan clan at the Kashi Viswanath temple early Monday morning.doweshowbellyad=0;

KNOT OR NOT: Aishwarya’s presence at a family function of the Bachchans in Varanasi sent the rumour mills working overtime (AP Photo)
VARANASI: Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan and beauty queen-turned actress Aishwarya Rai took part in pujas along with the former’s family at the Kashi Viswanath and Sankat Mochan temples early Monday morning, capping a night of rumours that they were getting married.
Abhishek's father Amitabh Bachchan, mother Jaya, sister Shweta Nanda, uncle Ajitabh and his daughter Namrata and Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh took part in the 'Mangla Aarti' and 'Rudra Abhishek' rituals at the ancient temples.

The family also offered prayers at Ram Janaki temple near Sankat Mochan temple and participated in an aarti for Lord Hanuman there. The Bachchans and Aishwarya reached the temples amidst a heavy posse of police personnel and a battery of media persons.
Incidentally, Monday is the 99th birthday of Bachchan's father and noted Hindi poet late Harivanshrai Bachchan.
"They performed the rituals with great zeal. Amitabh and Jaya offered the 'jalabhishek' (offering of water to the deity). I also requested Abhishek and Aishwarya to do so," Kashi Viswanath temple priest Srikant Tripathi said.

Asked what were the reasons for the Bachchans conducting such pujas, Tripathi said that he was not aware of the reasons why they wanted to do this and that there was no specific ritual performed to reduce the influence of Mars on the actors.
Astrologer Chandramouli Upadhyaya, who met the Bachchans on Sunday night, said there was no discussion on the marriage. Earlier, during a visit to London, Bachchan Sr had said that he wanted Abhishek to settle with a "good girl" of his choice.
Asked about the prospect of Abhishek marrying Aishwarya, the older Bachchan had quipped: "I have also heard about it. You should ask the people who spread the rumour".
The Bachchans flew into this temple town by a chartered flight late Sunday night and were staying in seven suites in Hotel Taj Ganges. The star guests entered the hotel through the rear entry, giving a slip to the media and a surge of onlookers assembled at the lobby and outside.

End of Article