The Renaissance Mayflower Hotel sent word around today that DeSales St. NW between Connecticut Ave. NW and 17th St. NW will be closed starting at 4:30 p.m. for a traditional Hindu wedding procession. D.C. residents Shilpa Maheshwari and Neil Agarwal are getting married today, and the Baraat ceremony will involve the groom arriving on an elephant as he and his family proceed down DeSales St. The hotel is offering local media interview opportunities with the father of the bride, as well as encouraging people to use the outdoor part of the ceremony as a photo op … we certainly hope the bride and groom got a discount on their ballroom rental in exchange for their special day being offered up as potential PR fodder.

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