It has been a whirlwind celebration for Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant who are all set to tie the knot in Mumbai on Friday, July 12, in the presence of family and friends.
The three-day celebrations will begin with the Shubh Vivaah (wedding), followed by Shubh Aashirwad (blessing ceremony) on July 13 and Mangal Utsav (wedding reception) on July 14.
As the childhood sweethearts get ready to tie the knot, here’s looking back at their journey — from roka and engagement to pre-wedding revelry.
Roka Ceremony: On December 30, 2022, a traditional “roka” ceremony was held at the Shrinathji Temple in Nathdwara, Rajasthan, formally introducing Radhika Merchant as the soon-to-be daughter-in-law of the Ambanis. This was followed by a grand party at Antilia, which was attended by several B-town celebrities.
Engagement: The couple exchanged rings on January 19, 2023, in an intimate ceremony at Antilia where Anant Ambani shone bright in a blue kurta pyjama and a dark-hued jacket, while Radhika Merchant donned a gorgeous golden lehenga.
Pre-Wedding in Jamnagar: In one of the biggest get-togethers of VVIPs from all walks of life, the Ambani family hosted a grand three-day pre-wedding fest for Anant and Radhika in Jamnagar, Gujarat. A special performance by singing sensation Rihanna, Cirque De Soleil, visit to Vantara and a magical drone show were the highlights of the festivities.
Radhika Merchant’s Bridal Shower: Viral photos on social media showed bride-to-be Radhika Merchant enjoying her bridal shower with her girl gang. In one of the photos, actor Janhvi Kapoor and other bridesmaids can be seen posing in pink outfits to match the floral-themed decor. While her bridesmaids were dressed in silk shirt and pyjama sets for the occasion, Radhika stunned in an ivory-coloured loungewear set.
Mass Wedding: Keeping up with their endeavor to give back to society, industrialist Mukesh Ambani and his wife Nita Ambani hosted a mass wedding in Navi Mumbai for 50 couples from the underprivileged section of society. The Ambanis presented the couples with gold ornaments, including nose rings, wedding rings, mangalsutra, and silver toe rings and anklets. Nearly 800 people witnessed the ceremony. The new brides were given “streedhan”, a cheque of Rs. 1.01 lakh each. The couples also received enough groceries and household items, including appliances, to start their new lives together. After the ceremony, a grand dinner was organised for guests, followed by a traditional Tarpa dance by the Warli Tribe, an Indigenous tribe of Western India.
Mameru Ceremony: On July 3, Antilia was decked up to host the Mameru ceremony, a Gujarati wedding tradition. In the ceremony, the groom’s mother’s family — in this case members from Nita Ambani’s side of the family — led by her mother Smt. Purnima Dalal and her sister Ms. Mamta Dalal, visited the residence to bless the couple along with gifts and offerings. The groom’s maternal uncles and family present the bride and groom with a traditional set of gifts known as “Mameru.”
Sangeet Ceremony: Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s sangeet ceremony was a star-studded affair that was attended by Bollywood A-listers and had a memorable performance by singer Justin Beiber who sang his hit songs such as Baby, Love Yourself, and Boyfriend. Several stars such as Salman Khan, social media influencer Orry, Sara Ali Khan, Ananya Panday, Alia Bhatt, and Ranbir Kapoor also performed at the ceremony.
Graha Shanti Pooja: Radhika Merchant’s parents Shaila and Viren Merchant hosted a traditional Graha Shanti Pooja to bless their daughter ahead of her wedding with Anant Ambani.
Haldi Ceremony: Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s haldi ceremony had the A-list of Bollywood in attendance and guests painted yellow in turmeric were clicked after enjoying the ritual. Bollywood actors Ranveer Singh, Janhvi Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, and Ananya Panday also joined the ceremony, changing out of their finery to enjoy the moment.
Shiv Shakti Puja: Music composer and singer Amit Trivedi sang his popular track ‘Namo Namo’ from ‘Kedarnath’ movie as he performed live at the Ambani family’s Shiv Shakti puja ahead of Anant Ambani’s wedding with Radhika Merchant. The Ambanis hosted Mehndi ceremony and Shiv Shakti puja at their residence Antilia on Wednesday evening.
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