High-profile figures like Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and Ivanka Trump flew to India to attend the extravagant pre-wedding celebration of billionaire heir Anant Ambani.
The three-day event, featuring performances by Rihanna and magician David Blaine, saw a diverse guest list of around 1,200 people from Silicon Valley, Bollywood, and beyond.
Notable Indian celebrities, including cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and actor Shah Rukh Khan, were also captured enjoying the festivities.
Anant Ambani, the 28-year-old son of Asia’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani, holds a directorial position in an energy business under Reliance, the Indian conglomerate founded by his grandfather.
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Despite the wedding with his 29-year-old girlfriend Radhika Merchant scheduled for July, no expenses were spared for the lavish pre-wedding celebration.
Guests were treated to 500 dishes prepared by about 100 chefs, as disclosed in a planning document seen by Reuters.
The weekend festivities unfolded in Jamnagar, Gujarat, near Reliance’s main oil refinery. The city’s airport, usually handling fewer than 10 flights daily, experienced a notable surge in activity, with approximately 130 flights reported for the extravaganza.
Chartered jets from New Delhi and Mumbai were provided to guests, along with additional services like hairstylists, makeup artists, and drapers.
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The Reliance Foundation, the charitable arm of the Ambani family business, shared its commitment to the event’s unique touch. Weavers were engaged to create a symbolic “tapestry of dreams,” while visually impaired artisans were hired to craft candles for the guests.
Additionally, a new Hindu temple complex, specifically built for the wedding, is planned to be opened to the public in the future, according to the NGO.
The Ambani family hosted a communal dinner for over 50,000 villagers on Wednesday, adding a community touch to the grand celebration.
