Katy Perry and Russell Brand married in Hindu ceremony in India

American singer Katy Perry, 26, and her comedian fiancé Russell Brand, 35, have married in a Hindu marriage ceremony under heavy security arrangements in Ranthambhore National Park, India's leading tiger park. The couple exchanged their marriage vows on Saturday surrounded by a small group of friends and family, in the Hindu marriage rituals conducted by a Hindu priest at the luxury tented camp Aman-i-Khas. Perry’s parents Mary and Keith Hudson, and Brand’s mother Barbara Brand were present.

There was tight security with private security guards stationed at the resort and other nearby hotels where guests and the couple are staying for the six-day wedding celebration.

Perry and Brand began their wedding by worshipping a statue of Lord Ganesha, the Hindu God, as practiced by Hindus before the start of any new venture, and the pair walked to a specially designed mandap, as usual in Hindu weddings, and sat on ornate thrones as a Hindu priest performed the ceremonial rituals.

As is usual in most Indian marriages, the couple walked around a sacred fire seven times reciting Sanskrit mantras and tying a special wedding scarf together to symbolize their life partnership. Brand stooped low to touch Perry’s parents' feet requesting permission to marry Perry.

According to reports, about 40 guests of the couple have been staying since Wednesday at the camp, where tents cost £600 a night, and the neighboring £300 a night Sher Bagh resort.

The celebrity guests, who attended the wedding, included comedian David Baddiel and his wife Morwenn Banks, and on the invitation list were rapper P Diddy, Jonathan Ross, David Williams and pop star Rihanna.

A spokesperson said that though the couple had a Hindu wedding and sat patiently through an hour-long havan, “The very private and spiritual ceremony, attended by the couple’s closest family and friends, was performed by a Christian minister and long time friend of the Hudson (Perry) family.”

I do. Twenty-two times

I do.

Twenty-two years ago.
A lifetime, several maybe....
We were SO young, and didn't even know it.
But then again, not so much maybe.
We had dated for...ever.
Seven years.
In some ways, we practically grew up together...
seven years, springing into adulthood.

{It was the eighties, don't judge me.
And yes, we were young!}

We've been through so much:
times when we weren't sure we'd make it,
times when we couldn't imagine not.
Eras.
Just like any "old married couple."

That's what we are now....
Foolishly, perhaps,
it surprises us.
We used to be that young couple....
Now we are the old one,
the one with how many kids?

But here's the secret, shhhhhhhh:
Now, it's so much better.

We might be that old married couple...
Not as shiny, or smooth, or skinny....
But we are molded into each other, part and parcel.

It surprises us both, how so long ago it was such a fragile event, really.
It wouldn't have taken much, he says, for it not to have happened.
A little more fear, a little less hope...
a different choice, or two.
But then again...maybe not.
Seems like it was meant to be.

Twenty-two years.
Lifetimes.
And we can, even now, look at each other with deep wonder and say
"I love you so."
"And, ever, I do."

Happy Anniversary Honey, I love you!