Where's the party tonight? At Ash's place

The Abhishek Bachchan-Aishwarya Rai blockbuster union has the perfect Bollywood cast. From lead stars to the guest-list, the credits for their Friday wedding are ready to roll with designer dresses, special henna and flowers flown in from Kerala.

Wedding eve will see a lavish mehndi ceremony at the former Miss World's residence in Bandra. As has been the norm for all the events connected with the wedding of the year, only select guests have been invited for the occasion Thursday evening.

The equally private sangeet Wednesday, from whatever glimpses one could procure, was an extravagant affair too with starry guests like Ajay Devgan, Preity Zinta and Sachin Tendulkar adding glitter and glamour to the gala evening at the Bachchan's Juhu residence Prateeksha.

The ceremony that kick-started revelries for the AbhiAsh wedding saw a colour theme of purple and blue with close friends Anil Ambani, Subroto Roy, Amar Singh and uncle Ajitabh Bachchan playing host.

All the Kapoors, with the exception of Babita, Kareena and Karisma, have been invited for the three-day festivities.

Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav will be there to bless the couple. Ramesh and Rohan Sippy, Yash Chopra and family, Karan Johar, Kajol, Sanjay Dutt, Goldie Behl and Apoorva Lakhia will also be there on D-Day.

Also on the list are old friends like Danny Denzongpa and Romesh Sharma.

Though it is a very private affair and entire Bachchan clan and their friends tight-lipped about the wedding, some details have seeped out. Sources revealed that extravagant arrangements are being made for the wedding.

Nihar henna from Sojat in Rajasthan has been ordered. It will be used for Aishwarya's mehndi ceremony.

Aishwarya's favourite designer Neeta Lulla has designed some dresses while others who have contributed to her trousseau -- and Abhishek's wardrobe -- are Sandeep Khosla and Abu Jani.

Jaya Bachchan picked up jewellery with exquisite workmanship for her would-be daughter-in-law in Kolkata and silk saris from Varanasi have also been ordered.

According to the reports, 1,000 heliconia flowers will come from Kerala to decorate the mandap.

Special traffic arrangements have been made for the baraat. Mumbai traffic police have agreed to divert traffic for half an hour so that Abhishek can ride a white horse on his wedding day.

Tight security arrangements have been made to keep away media and onlookers. The authorities in Mumbai have reportedly deployed 500 policemen to keep unwanted guests away.

The two Bachchan bungalows - Prateeksha and Jalsa - have been converted into fortresses. The gates are manned by gun-toting security guards and it is virtually impossible for outsiders to get glimpse of the fabulous wedding extravaganza.