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Dabbawallahs to attend wedding
They will gift a traditional silk sari to Camilla Parker Bowles and a turban for Charles.
Scores of this city's famous dabbawallahs, or lunch box carriers, have joined the privileged few to be invited to Prince Charles' wedding next month.
A personal invitation by the prince for the royal wedding to be held April 9 was delivered to the head of the dabbawallahs' association by the British high commission.
"We had never thought we would be invited for such a great occasion. It's a huge honour for all of us," said Raghunath Medge, president of Nutan Mumbai Tiffin-Box Suppliers' Association.
"With this gesture, Prince Charles has clearly showed he is a true friend of ours. We will definitely go for the wedding to convey the best wishes of all Mumbai dabbawallahs," he said.
Charles had met the dabbawallahs and learnt of their efficient network of distributing tens of thousands of lunch boxes during his visit to India in November 2003.
Medge said his association received the invitation from the British high commission Saturday and that he had already given his acceptance.
"Me and my colleague Sopan Mare will leave for London Wednesday for the wedding," he said, noting the British consulate here was arranging tickets and visas for the visit.
The dabbawallahs, who are famous for their high operational efficiency in delivering lunch boxes mainly to office-goers everyday, had earlier couriered a wedding gift to Charles.
The gift included a traditional silk sari for Camilla Parker Bowles and a turban for Charles.
"We plan to take something with us to gift the couple on the wedding day. We will raise money among ourselves for that after we decide on the nature of the gift," said Medge.
"I am definitely looking forward to the trip. It will be my first visit overseas and that too for such a great occasion."
Charles divorced late princess Diana in 1996. She died in a car accident the following year. The wedding of Charles and Camilla, who first met at a polo match in Windsor in 1970, marks a watershed in public and private opinion to their relationship.
