Wedding Party
Sangeeta & Krishna Chavan
Parents of the Bride
I am deeply grateful to have chosen these beautiful souls to journey through this life with. My mother, Sangeeta Chavan, has been my first glimpse into the love of the Divine Mother. She’s the one who taught me the power of never giving up. Whenever something seemed impossible, her simple words—“Try, and never give up”—would echo in my heart, giving me strength. My father, Krishna Chavan, is a true inspiration. His resilience through life’s challenges and his unwavering willpower have shown me what it means to stay grounded and strong. From them, I’ve inherited the values of love, resilience, and inner strength. The life I’ve lived and the person I’m becoming are deeply shaped by their quiet sacrifices, their unwavering support, and the humble life they’ve lived—always giving the best to their children. Together, they’ve raised three of us—my elder sister, my younger brother, and me—and given us the foundation to become the people we are today. And above all, I thank Guruji for blessing me with the environment to explore my spiritual path, and for giving me the grace to see the deeper beauty in life.
Gisela Schiffer
Mother of the Groom
Gisela, the mother of the groom, Thomas, has raised not only him but also two other remarkable men, all of whom are now leading fulfilling lives thanks to her guidance and unwavering support. She possesses a generous heart, always attuned to the needs of those around her. Through life’s challenges, she has emerged as a strong, independent woman, embodying resilience and grace. In her well-earned retirement, she enjoys long walks in nature, yoga, cooking, baking, spending time with family and friends and the company of her beloved and demanding cat Bella. Above all, Gisela is overjoyed that Thomas has found Sheetal to share his life with. With deepest gratitude for all you have given me — Thomas
Aarini Iktara
Flower Girl
Aarini is the bride’s beloved niece, and we lovingly call her Titlu, which means butterfly. She’s 10 years old and is absolutely thrilled to be part of this wedding ceremony. Titlu is a sensitive, gentle, and generous soul, who enjoys spending her time surrounded by nature. Nature walks are one of her favorite activities, and it’s easy to see why—her connection to the world around her is beautiful to watch. Already, she shows a deep, instinctive motherly love and takes great joy in caring for the younger children around her. Her imagination is as vibrant as her spirit—she loves talking to her imaginary friends and sharing incredible stories with them. Recently, she’s developed a love for reading, and Enid Blyton is her favorite author. When she’s not reading, Titlu enjoys knitting and creating handmade gifts for her family and friends—whether it’s for birthdays, homecomings, or Indian festivals, she loves making each gift special. Titlu also has a love for dance and is currently learning Kathak, a classical Indian dance form. She absolutely adores her dance teacher and would never miss a lesson. Along with her creativity and grace, Titlu is also athletic, she lights up with excitement as she practices gymnastics stunts on a bar. She’s always eager to show her latest skills, and it’s a joy to see her energy and determination in action. We are so proud of her and excited to have her as part of this special day!
Rafael Schiffer
Flower Child
Rafael is the first and, for now, the only descendant of the next generation of the Schiffer family. Rafael is as enchanting and charming as his mother, Jelena, and as adventurous and romantic as his father, Michael, Thomas's older brother. Living in an ashram in Germany among many other children, Rafael has formed strong friendships and is a natural leader among them. At only 4 years old he is the oldest, the wisest, the funniest, and undeniably the most adorable. With his irresistible charm, he already captures the female hearts effortlessly, yet he knows exactly what he wants. Rafael finds joy in dancing, chanting, playing with his toy cars, enjoying delicious food, and, of course, keeping his parents on their toes. We are delighted that Rafael will grace this celebration with his sweet presence and shower us, along with our friends and family, with flowers and joy. We are filled of joy to have him as part of this special day!
Nayaswamis Kirtani & Anand
Officiant
Nayaswami Kirtani & Nayaswami Anand are the spiritual directors of Ananda Europe & Italy, and the pioneers to share Yogananda’s work through Ananda Sangha in Europe. They have been our inspiration who exemplify ideal spiritual marriage as taught by Swami Kriyananda. Their example of divine partnership and devotion to God and our Gurus is a gift to all who seek divine love though spiritual marriage. Kirtani radiates the pure, unconditional love of the Divine Mother, offering a maternal presence to all who cross her path. Anand is a living expression of the timeless wisdom of India, preserving and sharing the teachings of a true yogi with authenticity and grace. We are deeply blessed to have them as our spiritual guides and to receive their sacred presence as the ministers of our spiritual wedding & union. With heartfelt gratitude - Thomas and Sheetal