Indian weddings are an extravagant affair: multiple pre-wedding ceremonies, hundreds of guests, lavish wedding attire, and hours of dancing. Yet one of India’s richest families, the billionaire Ambanis, effortlessly surpassed all expectations for their youngest son Anant’s pre-wedding weekend. The event garnered international media coverage, both sparking praise and criticism.
Three days of lavish pre-wedding festivities unfolded over the weekend of March 1st for Anant Ambani, the youngest son of “Asia’s Richest Man” Mukesh Ambani, and his childhood sweetheart Radhika Merchant. With a net worth of over 114 billion dollars from his Reliance Industries corporation, Mukesh Ambani is known for his success in business and his extensive philanthropy. He spared no expense for his son’s pre-wedding festivities; in addition to an exclusive performance from Rihanna, the impressive guest list ranged from American billionaires like Bill Gates to Bollywood actors such as Shah Rukh Khan. Despite all this, the wedding is dated to happen in July.
The heavily publicized, heavily photographed event was lauded as a showcase of the “best of India” while also slammed as a display of excess wealth, the star-studded event captured the attention of millions, earning praise and criticism alike from the Internet.
According to Oxfam International, 77% of India’s wealth is held by the top 10% richest, and the Ambanis are no exception.
The pre-wedding event cost the Ambanis over 150 million dollars, a fraction of their net worth. According to Oxfam International, 77% of India’s wealth is held by the top 10% richest, and the Ambanis are no exception. Though lavish weddings are a staple of Indian culture, most do not amount to such a display of money. Indeed, hundreds of dishes prepared for this singular event and hundreds of rich and famous people congregating for an incredibly expensive pre-wedding event was seen by many as an excessive and arrogant move to flaunt the Ambanis’ unimaginable wealth.
On the other hand, the media praised the event for showcasing Indian culture to the world in a positive manner, as well as helping those in need. The Ambanis kicked off their wedding festivities with a traditional feast to which they invited several small towns to join them in. A Hindu temple complex, built especially for this occasion, was opened to the public after the pre-wedding festivities. The festivities showcase the best of India, many argue, and the Ambanis are doing India a favor by indirectly benefiting others through their activities.
Love them or hate them, their lifestyle is not one normal civilians fathom. The Ambanis are nothing more than and nothing less than billionaires; though they may not idle away in their gold towers, they are by no means vanguards of a better future for humanity. An Ambani wedding is neither a disservice nor a service to India, nor to the world. It is nothing more and nothing less than a wedding filled to the brim with more money than almost anyone will experience in their lifetime.
