Ash leaves for in-laws' home

Mumbai, Apr 21 (UNI) Newly wed Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai left for her in-laws' home after a traditional ''bidai'' ceremony here.

A specially decorated ''doli'' took Ash to the waiting car in the compound of ''La Mer'', the Rai residence in suburban Bandra, after the bride bade farewell to her maiden home and parents in a traditional ''bidai'' ceremony.

Anil and Tina Ambani, Amar Singh, Sonali Bendre and her husband Goldie Behl, Sikander Kher, Amitabh Bachchan and his brother Ajitabh, and Shweta Nanda were prominent among those who accompanied the bride and groom to ''Prateeksha'' where Jaya Bachchan was waiting to welcome her ''bahu'' into the family fold.

''Prateeksha'', located in Juhu, was the venue where the marriage of Bollywood stars Aishwarya and Abhishek was solemnised last evening.

The Bachchan family is expected to visit Tirupati tomorrow to pray to Lord Balaji for marital bliss for the newly weds.

Earlier, about 100 guests including the groom's family, relatives and friends and close associates of Aishwarya from the modelling and ad world, were treated to a lunch by the Rais.

The Bachchans escorted Ash to her Bandra home from ''Prateeksha'' well past midnight, around 0215 hrs, after the wedding guests had left.

En route, they stopped at Leelavati Hospital to seek blessings of grandmother Teji Bachchan, but seeing the hordes of mediapersons and photographers outside, they left without alighting.

UNI