It has been one year since the wedding of Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani captivated the nation and the world. Their marriage ceremony in 2024 transcended a mere social event to become India's most widely followed cultural phenomenon—one that put India on the global map—with millions globally witnessing the beautiful and deeply meaningful rituals unfold across mainstream and social media.
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The Sacred Significance of Hindu Marriage
In Hindu tradition, marriage is revered not just as a social contract but as a sacred and lifelong commitment. It represents a divine union between two individuals, their families, and communities, solemnized and celebrated with elaborate rituals and customs. The purpose of Hindu marriage extends beyond personal fulfillment, encompassing the fulfillment of religious duties (dharma) and contributing to societal order.
While modern practicalities often preclude most weddings from adhering to all ancient rituals, the young Ambani couple chose to meticulously follow every Indian tradition and custom. This choice stemmed from their deep reverence for these practices and a profound desire to commence their married life with the blessings and wisdom of elders and spiritual leaders. The Radhika-Anant wedding effectively conveyed this powerful message globally, with numerous international luminaries present to experience it firsthand.
Augmenting India's Global Image
At a time when India is confidently asserting its rightful place on the world stage, building significant prowess across financial, technological, and industrial sectors, this meticulously organized and deeply spiritual ceremony further augmented India's image as the spirituality capital of the world. The wedding guest list itself reflected India's burgeoning international appeal and its rise to a central role in global affairs. The presence of esteemed individuals highlighted India’s growing economic, political, intellectual, and scientific strengths.
The ability of Reliance Industries and the Ambani Family to host such a grand assembly of global dignitaries from diverse fields underscored their focused efforts to cultivate deep, inclusive, and meaningful relationships, consistently working to position India as a global leader.
A Confluence of Luminaries
The wedding was a remarkable gathering of religious and spiritual leaders from various Vedic Hindu traditions, making it the largest congregation of such figures at a wedding ceremony in recent memory. Dharmagurus attending the festivities included:
Swami Sadananda Saraswati, Shankaracharya, Dwarka
Swami Avimukteshwarand Saraswati, Shankaracharya, Joshimath
Gaurang Das Prabhu, Divisional Director, ISKCON
Gaur Gopal Das, Monk, ISKCON
Radhanath Swami, Member, Governing Body, ISKCON
PujyashriRameshbhai Oza
Gautambhai Oza
PujyashriDevaprasad Maharaj
Vijuben Rajani, Shree Anandabawa Seva Sanstha
Shri Balak Yogeshwardas Ji Maharaj, Badrinath Dham
Pujyashri Chidanand Saraswati, Head, Parmarth Niketan Ashram
Shree Namramuni Maharaj, Jain Muni, Founder-Prasadham
Dhirendra Kumar Garg, Guru, Bageshwar Dham
Baba Ramdev, Yoga Guru
Swami Rambhadracharya
Swami Kailashanand, Mahamandaleshwar, Niranjani Akhara
Avdeshanand Giri, Mahamandaleshwar, Juna Akhara
Shri Devkinandan Thakurji Maharaj, Vishwa Shanti Sewa Trust
Didi Maa Sadhvi Ritambhara Ji, Vatsalya Gram
Swami Parmatmnaad ji, Founder, Param Shakti Peeth
Shri Vishal Rakesh ji Goswami, Head Priest, Shrinathji Temple
In addition to numerous Indian politicians and ministers, the celebrations were graced by political luminaries from across the world, further highlighting India's growing international appeal. These included:
John Kerry (American politician)
Tony Blair (Former Prime Minister, UK)
Boris Johnson (Former Prime Minister, UK)
Matteo Renzi (Former Prime Minister of Italy)
Sebastian Kurz (Former Prime Minister of Austria)
Stephen Harper, Former Prime Minister of Canada
Carl Bildt (Former Prime Minister of Sweden)
Mohamed Nasheed (Former President of Maldives)
H. E. Samia Suluhu Hassan (President, Tanzania)
A vast number of global business leaders also traveled to India for the wedding rituals, including:
Amin Nasser (President & CEO, Aramco)
H. E. Khaldoon Al Mubarak, CEO, Managing Director, Mubadala
Murray Auchincloss (CEO, bp)
Robert Dudley (Former CEO - bp, Board Member - Aramco)
Mark Tucker (Group Chairman, HSBC Holdings Plc)
Bernard Looney (Former CEO, bp)
Shantanu Narayen (CEO, Adobe)
Michael Grimes (Managing Director, Morgan Stanley)
Igor Sechin, CEO, Rosneft
Jay Lee, Executive Chairman, Samsung Electronics
Dilhan Pillay (CEO, Temasek Holdings)
Emma Walmsley (CEO, GlaxoSmithKline)
David Constable (CEO, Fluor Corporation)
Jim Teague (CEO, Enterprise GP)
Gianni Infantino (IOC Member, President of FIFA)
Juan Antonio Samaranch (Vice President, IOC)
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Director-General, WTO)
Kim Kardashian, Media personality, Socialite
Khloe Kardashian, Media personality, Socialite
Dinesh Paliwal (Partner, KKR)
Lim Chow Kiat, CEO, GIC
Michael Klein, Managing Partner, M. Klein & Company
Bader Mohammad Al-Saad (Director, KIA)
Yoshihiro Hyakutome, Senior Managing Executive Officer, SMBC
Khalil Mohammed Sharif Foulathi, Vice Chairman, ADIA
Peter Diamandis, Executive Chairman, Singularity University
Jay Shetty (Podcaster, Author, Coach)
Jeff Koons (Artist)
January Makamba (Foreign Affairs & East African Cooperation)
James Taiclet (CEO, Lockheed Martin)
Eric Cantor (Vice Chairman, Moelis & Company)
Enrique Lores (President & CEO, HP Inc.)
Borje Ekholm (President & CEO, Ericsson)
William Lin (Executive Vice President, bp)
Tommi Uitto, President, Nokia Mobile Networks
Embracing Humanity and Tradition
In the true spirit of "Manav seva hi Madhav seva" – service to humanity is the true service to God – the Ambani family initiated their wedding celebrations with a SamuhikVivah (mass wedding) for 50 underprivileged couples at Reliance Corporate Park, Navi Mumbai. Over 800 guests attended this event, with all Ambani family members present to bestow blessings and gifts upon the newlyweds.
Furthermore, the Ambani family ensured that no one went without food for three weeks alongside the wedding celebrations. A Bhandara was organized, serving over 1,000 lunches and dinners daily through a community kitchen, embodying the same principle of service to humanity.
The wedding celebrations spanned several days, encompassing numerous smaller, yet deeply significant, rituals:
Mosalu: A Gujarati tradition where the groom's maternal uncle presents the bride and groom with traditional gifts known as Mameru.
Valley of Gods: Devotional dance performances led by Smt. Nita Ambani at the Jamnagar temple complex, symbolizing a mother's love and showcasing Indian spirituality through dance.
Sangeet: The music ceremony, a joyous occasion where family members performed songs and dances for the couple, with spirited performances by both Mukesh and Nita Ambani.
Grah Shanti: A ritualistic pooja performed to invoke Lord Ganesha and the Nava Grah (nine planets) to remove obstacles, pacify negative planetary influences, and bring happiness and prosperity to the new couple. This was performed alongside the Puja of Randal Maa, a manifestation of Goddess Durga or Parvati.
Peethi/Haldi: A popular Indian wedding ritual, this ceremony brought families together for fun and to connect with an ancient, unbroken tradition.
Bhajans and Shiv Shakti Puja: A profound and meaningful ceremony celebrating the union and balance of divine energies, observed as a solemn and pious occasion.
The Wedding: The sacred wedding rituals were performed in the presence of coolthe holy fire, elders, and spiritual leaders as the couple entered holy matrimony.
The Wedding Receptions: Receptions continued for three days, catering to various groups of extended friends, families, associates, and partners. Notably, one reception was dedicated to all staff from Antilia, Sea Wind, Karuna Sindhu, and other Ambani households, including housekeeping, security, secretarial, operations, and maintenance personnel.
An Ode to Banaras and Resplendent Indian Attire
The wedding day décor, themed "An Ode to Banaras," offered a cherished and lasting experience for global leaders, taking them on a journey through the ghats of Banaras. This theme paid homage to the eternal city's traditions, piety, culture, arts, crafts, and cuisine. The immersive experience recreated the essence of Banaras's streets within the Concourse of the Wedding Venue at Jio World Centre, allowing guests to engage with the city's traditions, flavors, and spirituality.
The dress code theme, "Resplendently Indian," saw all dignitaries and guests adorned in traditional Indian attires, showcasing a spectacular display of India's rich cultural heritage. This burst of colors, fabrics, textures, and techniques at the Ambani wedding vividly presented India’s diverse and talented couturiers and artisans.
The marriage of Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani was not just a celebration of two individuals uniting, but a grand tapestry woven with threads of deep tradition, global connection, and profound spirituality, leaving an indelible mark on India's cultural landscape.
