When Himanshu Jindal left a friend's party in Sydney five months ago to drive to Canberra to meet his future in-laws he was also en route to meet the girl who would soon agree to be his bride for the very first time.

Aastha Mahajan, a 24-year-old accountant of Indian descent who lives in Lyons with her mother, Kanchan and father, Vinod, knew Himanshu, a 28-year-old automotive engineer who had grown up in India before moving to Australia, was on his way and was apprehensive.

"I felt we weren't ready [to meet]," Aastha said at the couple's Bollywood-themed pre-wedding ceremony in Forrest on Saturday, November 22 . "We had only spoken two or three times and I was nervous about the whole idea [of an arranged marriage]."

Fortunately future father-in-law Vinod was not an ogre, Kanchan was impressed by her potential son-in-law's manners and bearing and the two young people hit it off from the start.

"Our two families knew each other from India," Himanshu said.

"It was the first week of July, I was at a party and, at 1pm, I received a phone call from my brother saying I had to go to Canberra to meet this girl right now."

He was on the road at 1.30pm and in Lyons by 4pm.

"As soon as I saw her [Aastha] I knew I had done the right thing," he said.

"She is lovely. I was bowled off my feet; I think I actually drooled over her."

Aastha, for her part, was quietly smitten, and said her intended had made an instant impression.

Both deny any suggestion an arranged marriage is less romantic or loving than the more haphazard western arrangement.

"We have had many chances, at least five, to catch up since then," Himanshu, who now lives and works in Brisbane, said. "I am in love with this girl. In India we say 'Saat Janam', the love that is for seven lives, not just this one."

The feeling is mutual. "Himanshu is a lovely person, I do love him already," Aastha said.

Family friend and Canberra India Australia Association president, Nishi Puri, cautions against thinking Indian arranged marriages are forced and the girl cannot say no.

A fairer description of Aastha and Himanshu's nuptials, to be formalised during a three-day long ceremony in Punjab in late January, would be facilitated.

"The girl can choose," Ms Puri said. "I was offered a number of potential husbands before my wedding in 1981. I had the liberty to say no. I did a couple of times, much to the chagrin of my father."

Ms Puri said while fathers and mothers looked for different things in potential life partners for their daughters, it was paramount the man be worthy.

"Family backgrounds are important as well; if you are Indian family is an important part of your identity. You are an extension of your family. Two families are marrying."

While fathers want a good provider it falls to the mother to check out the prospective groom's family, how their daughter will fit in and whether or not the couple are compatible.

"When I got married my mother was very keen on good looks as well," Ms Puri said.

Aastha's mother, Kanchan, who said Saturday's ceremony brought back many memories of her own wedding day in India in May, 1989, was proud and happy.

"I am so full of joy to see how beautiful and dedicated and sincere Aastha is," Kanchan said.

Himanshu, although only a part of the family's life for a brief time, is already a source of happiness.

"They make a beautiful couple together. We are fortunate to have him in our family."

Pre-wedding ceremonies such as Saturday night's are now customary among expatriate Indian communities across the globe.

They make it possible for family and friends who might not be able to travel to India for the formal three-to-seven day long celebrations to share the families' joy, to give gifts and, in many cases, meet the groom.

It is one of three events that have been held in Australia to mark the marriage.

The first was the engagement party held about two months ago and the second was the henna ceremony last Thursday.

Much more than just the application of make-up, henna is a skin die that is painted onto the bride's hands and arms and which will last for weeks.

The intricate designs are based on traditional patterns and other members of the family may have them applied as well.

Bollywood music and dance, with its vivacious celebration of life, was the dominant leitmotif on Saturday night and the ladies embraced the opportunity to dress to kill.

The evening, billed as "a night of food, music and dancing", was a kaleidoscope of colour and movement with every woman a queen and Aastha, radiant in bottle green, capturing the eyes and hearts of all.

"Weddings are about family and community," Ms Puri said. "When a girl marries she is everybody's daughter.

"Our children are not silly; they have the best of both worlds - Indian and Western - and they know when to throw the switch."