In an age when many couples opt for picturesque weddings in the Alps or the Amalfi Coast, a British MP returned to his roots with an emotional, culturally rich celebration that unfolded in the heart of Uttar Pradesh.
Navendu Prabhat Mishra, 36, a two-time elected Labour Party Member of Parliament from Stockport in the United Kingdom, tied the knot with Garima Tiwari of Bhopal in a spectacular Sanatan-style wedding in Lucknow on Sunday.
From the earthy fragrance of turmeric during the haldi ceremony to the soulful beats of dhol echoing through a five-star hotel in Ansal Golf City, everything about the wedding exuded the charm of a quintessential Indian celebration.
But what made it even more special was the groom himself-a rising British politician, clad in a cream-colored sherwani, touching the feet of elders, offering folded-hand greetings to guests, and joining the pheras with a sincerity that moved many to tears.
“This is not just a wedding. It is a celebration of heritage. It is rare to see someone who has achieved so much internationally come back and honour his roots in such a heartfelt way,” said Arvind Tiwari, a relative of the bride.
Navendu Mishra, who moved to the UK from Mumbai in 2003 and has since become a prominent voice for the Indian diaspora in British politics, insisted on celebrating his marriage in India, not just for nostalgia, but to reconnect with family, tradition, and home.
“Weddings are deeply personal. My parents always wanted to celebrate it here, amidst family, culture, and tradition. Lucknow felt right-it is close to where we belong. We had guests from our village, family members I had not seen in years. If we had done this in London or Stockport, it would have lacked that soul. What happened here was beyond my imagination,” Mishra said, visibly emotional after the wedding rituals.
The bride, Garima Tiwari, hailing from Bhopal but originally from Deoria district in Uttar Pradesh, looked radiant in lehenga, complimenting the traditional grandeur of the ceremony. A banker by training and an alumna of a Glasgow university, Garima met Navendu through family connections, and their bond grew stronger over shared values and cultural sensibilities.
“Despite being born and raised miles apart, they both have strong emotional ties to their roots. This wedding is proof that no matter how far you go, the pull of home is eternal,” said Nilendra Pandey, Navendu’s maternal uncle.
Garima’s father, Harendra Tiwari, a retired officer from the Horticulture Department in Madhya Pradesh, called the wedding “a moment of pride for both families and a message to younger generations about the timelessness of our traditions.”
As celebrations unfolded, the venue saw an eclectic gathering of dignitaries and loved ones.
UK MP Virendra Sharma graced the occasion, as did Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, state minister Satish Sharma, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s brother Pankaj Modi, Nepal’s Pashupatinath Temple representative Ravi Lamichhane, and former Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai. Several senior IAS and IPS officers were also in attendance, adding a political gleam to the already glitzy event.
“It felt like a mini India-UK cultural summit,” quipped a guest.
Navendu, known for his rise through trade union activism in the UK, was first elected to the British Parliament in 2019. Since then, he has championed issues of social justice and minority representation, especially among the Indian community in Britain.
Yet, in the midst of his global political life, it was the rituals of kanyadaan, pheras, and ashirwad that seemed to bring the MP his brightest smiles.
“Today, he wasnot a politician. He was a son, a nephew, a cousin, and a groom-soaking in love, rituals, and tradition. It was a wedding soaked in sincerity,” said a family member.
As the fireworks lit up the Lucknow sky on Sunday night, one thing was clear: this was not just a wedding. It was a homecoming of the heart.
