By: Mohnish Singh
One of the world’s richest men, Mukesh Ambani is gearing up for the big fat Indian wedding of his younger son Anant Ambani with Radhika Merchant. The pre-wedding ceremonies are set to start on March 1-3 in Jamnagar, Gujarat, the home of Ambani’s massive oil refineries. Several high-profile personalities from all around the world are expected to attend the three-day function, and to make sure that all the guests are treated to a luxury experience like no other, the Ambanis are leaving no stone unturned. From star-studded performances to a variety of tastes and cuisines, here is how the Ambanis are preparing for an elaborate menu for their guests.
Day Wise Itinerary
Day 1 (March 1, 2024):
As per a PTI report, guests are expected to attend several themed parties over the three-day event and are advised to dress accordingly based on the ‘Event Guide’ issued to them. On the first day, which will be commemorated as “An Evening in Everland,” guests are expected to dress for a cocktail party.
Day 2 (March 2, 2024): ‘A Walk on the Wildside’ will be the event on this day, and ‘Jungle Fever’ is the recommended attire. It is scheduled to take place outside at the Ambanis’ Jamnagar animal rescue facility. After that, the visitors will head to “Mela Rouge,” a mash-up of Desi activities, where they will dress in their most beloved South Asian ensembles.
Day 3 (March 3, 2024): Two events will take place on this last day – Hashtakshar and Tusker Trails. The first event will take place outdoors, allowing attendees to take in Jamnagar’s natural splendour. For the final event, guests would be dressed in heritage Indian attire.
International Guestlist
The pre-wedding ceremonies of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant will see hundreds of eminent international celebrities in attendance in Jamnagar. If reports are to be believed, Mukesh Ambani has invited Microsoft founder, Bill Gates, Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, BlackRock CEO, Larry Fink, Blackstone chairman, Stephen Schwarzman, and Disney CEO, Bob Iger, among others. The guestlist does not end just there as the Prime Minister of Qatar, the king and queen of Bhutan, Adobe CEO, Shantanu Narayen, and many others will also mark their presence at the grand celebration. All guests will travel to Jamnagar on chartered flights from Mumbai or Delhi between 8am and 1pm on March 1.
Star-studded Performances
Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt have already reached Jamnagar. As per media reports, the couple has flown to Gujarat for the pre-wedding celebrations and dance rehearsals. The couple will be enthralling the guests with a special performance on their romantic numbers. Singers like Rihana, Diljit Dosanjh, Arijit Singh, and Hariharan are also expected to perform. Illusionist David Blaine will also perform some of his magical tricks at the event.
2500 Unique Dishes
According to reports, a team of more than 21 chefs will fly from Indore to Jamnagar to participate in the event, which will focus on Indian cuisine. The menu is extensive and includes Parsi, Thai, Mexican, Japanese and Pan-Asian dishes. The chefs have been roped in from the Jardin Hotel and out of these 21 chefs, there is just one male chef, while the other 20 are women. A total of 2,500 unique dishes will be served for three days. The breakfast menu alone has more than 70 options, while lunch and dinner have more than 250 options. Guests will also be served a variety of vegan dishes and evening snacks. Midnight meal will be served from 12 midnight to 4 am, preparations have been made in such a way that not a single item will be repeated in other functions.
Why Jamnagar as Wedding Venue?
In an interview with CNBC 18, Anant Ambani revealed why the family has chosen Jamnagar as the wedding venue. “My grandmother is from Jamnagar,” he said. “My mother has built the whole city. They have built the whole thing brick by brick. I have spent a lot of time here as a child. Mumbai is my home, but my heart is in Jamnagar. My parents and grandmother also suggested that we pick Jamnagar as the venue. It also gives me an opportunity to celebrate with my colleagues, and the other people I work with.”
As per reports, Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding festivities will continue through April 2024, leading up to a grand wedding in Mumbai on July 12, 2024.
