This Indian wedding offers a glimpse into the lives of India’s richest people.

They’ve finally gotten married for real. Central Mumbai was shut down on Friday for the wedding of the billionaire’s son and the daughter of a pharmaceutical executive so thousands of guests could walk the red carpet. Images of the extravagance and extravagance ahead of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding have been flooding the Indian media for months. They offered a glimpse into the “billionaire raj,” the lives of India’s richest people.

Day-long weddings, where families display their wealth, are not uncommon in this country. But it is the Ambani family, owners of the Reliance Industries conglomerate that includes petrochemicals, technology and media companies, that take the cake.

The celebrations for the youngest son and his wife, both 29, began in January with an engagement party. Then there was a pre-wedding party in Gujarat in March, where global superstar Rihanna performed and elephants were used as photo props. In May, the couple embarked on a European love tour, with Andrea Bocelli serenading hundreds of guests in Italy. Earlier this month, they held important Hindu celebrations in private, officiated by singer Justin Bieber.

The Kardashian Family

The official wedding took place on Friday, and will be followed by a three-day celebration in the Ambani family’s hometown. According to Reuters, three private jets were used to ferry the guests. Online videos show who was invited to the billionaire Raj’s lavish affair: actors, singers, sports stars and other VIPs. “Is Radhika[the bride, ed.]now being overshadowed by the Kardashians?” asked one of the many Instagram profiles that offered direct comments. It turned out to be a fun game of giving international guests marks for their attempts to adhere to traditional dress codes. According to her followers, Kim Kardashian didn’t quite succeed: her sari blouse was said to be too small in different sizes and was more like a “frilly bikini” than a dress that showed respect for tradition.

There is more concern about the extravagance of the celebrations. In addition to their material wealth, Indian families display their social status and power at weddings through their extensive guest lists. The receptions for the youngest Ambani couple have been attended by political heavyweights: Indian ministers of state, CEOs of multinational companies such as Mark Zuckerberg, and international leaders such as the Trumps and Tony Blairs. Anant’s father, Mukesh Ambani, is India’s richest man. The head of the country’s largest conglomerate is said to have close ties to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Political scientists note how a clique of businessmen has emerged around Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party, creating a tangle of political and economic power. Their companies benefit from the prime minister’s policies, from infrastructure projects to tax deals.

Inequality has grown.

Meanwhile, inequality in India has widened over the past decade. By some accounts, income disparities are now greater than they were under British colonial rule. The Ambani family seems to be somewhat aware of the resentment their wealth can generate. In early July, they held a mass wedding for 50 less fortunate couples. The couples received a year’s worth of groceries and their families could enjoy a lavish dinner. Some saw this as hypocrisy: The family wanted to show through this “connected” act that they cared about their fellow citizens, while looking out from the closet of their home in Mumbai’s largest slum. The private wedding dinner was catered by the Michelin-starred Peruvian chef Virgilio Martinez.

Writer Pratap Bhanu Mehta Fan Indian Express I guess the discomfort isn’t so bad. “Normal” people wouldn’t be so jealous of the Ambanis that they would begrudge them a party. After all, they’re so far removed from them. The general public, he says, is used to showing off thanks to Bollywood movies. They may also enjoy the fact that the rest of the world is watching: “India isn’t rich, so what? We certainly have some of the richest people in the world.

But not everyone is keen. “If you don’t know what to do with your money, there will be more taxes,” says X. Mumbaikars have criticised the police online for blocking off streets around the party site. There has been heated debate on social media about whether all the wardrobe changes – the bright saris, the long lehengas and the sherwanis for men – are just wasteful or a promotion of Indian designers and craftsmanship. ELLE India refrained from judging, but predicted: “This wedding sets the tone for years to come.”

To participate




Email the editor