In a quiet workshop in Jaipur, a year-long labour of love took shape not as jewellery or an idol, but as a wedding invitation unlike any other.
When businessman Shiv Johari began planning his daughter Shruti Johari’s wedding, he decided that a printed card would never capture what the moment meant to him. Instead, he imagined something enduring a blessing, a legacy and a farewell all carved into one.
The result was a box-style invitation crafted entirely from pure silver, weighing close to three kilograms and valued at around Rs 25 lakh. Built from 128 separate silver components and assembled without nails or screws, the invitation is as much a feat of craftsmanship as it is a personal statement.
“I made this card myself over the course of a year. I wanted my daughter’s wedding to invite not just relatives, but all the gods and goddesses as well. I wanted to give my child something that would stay with her for generations—something future generations would see and remember,” he said.
Measuring approximately 8 inches by 6.5 inches, with a depth of 3 inches, the card unfolds like a sacred narrative. At its summit is Lord Ganesha, inscribed with “Shri Ganeshaya Namah,” flanked by Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. Below them appear Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu, while Lord Venkateswara (Tirupati Balaji) is depicted in two distinct forms, complete with attendants and temple imagery.
65 Deities Engraved on Silver Wedding Invite
Across the silver surface, 65 deities are engraved in meticulous detail gods blowing conch shells, drummers mid-beat, goddesses holding lamps, and attendants waving fly-whisks. The outer layer presents Ashtalakshmi with her attendants, while the Sun God shines from the reverse side.
One section of the invitation tells the story of Lord Krishna’s life, from birth through childhood. A South Indian–style depiction shows Krishna with a single face and five torsos, encircled by eight cows gazing at him in devotion. Framing the edges are the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu, completing the spiritual arc.
At the heart of the card lie the names of the bride and groom Shruti Johari and Harsh Soni engraved poetically and surrounded by elephants scattering flowers, a traditional symbol of prosperity and new beginnings.
Inside the box, the design mirrors a traditional wedding invite, with the names of both families, including parents and relatives, engraved carefully into the silver transforming the card into a permanent family record.
“After six months of thinking, we decided that we should create this special thing, and I worked on it for one year to make it ready,” Johari added.
Father Invites Gods and Goddesses to Daughter’s Wedding
He said the invitation was formally presented to his daughter’s in-laws, symbolising that he was not merely sending his daughter away, but placing her future in divine care. “I wanted not only relatives but also all the gods and goddesses to be invited to my daughter’s wedding,” he said.
Images of the silver invitation quickly spread online, drawing admiration from across the country. Social media users described it as “a father’s love cast in silver” and “a living example of Indian weddings blending faith, family and emotion.”
For Johari, however, the card is not about grandeur or cost. It is about a moment a father pausing time, engraving his blessings, and letting his daughter step forward with faith literally surrounding her.