As Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s three-day pre-wedding festivities kicked off on Friday in Gujarat’s Jamnagar, big names from the worlds of business, politics, entertainment, and sports from India and around the globe reached the venue. Welcoming them, the soon-to-be groom’s father, Reliance Industries chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani emphasised the “Atithi Devo Bhava" tradition.
“Our esteemed friends and family, namaste and good evening to each and every one of you. In the Indian tradition, we respectfully describe guests as Atithis. ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’. It means: Guests are like Gods," he said. “When I did namaste to you, it meant that the Divine in me is pleased to acknowledge the Divine in you. Aap sab ne iss shaadi ke mahaul ko mangalmay bana diya hai. Dhanyavaad! Bahut bahut dil se dhanyavaad!"
Close to 2,000 guests, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Bollywood superstars Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, and Ranbir Kapoor are attending the celebration hosted at the Reliance Greens Complex in Jamnagar. American singer J Brown and popular rapper Nicki Minaj’s musical director Adam Blackstone also arrived to attend the pre-wedding bash.
“As Anant and Radhika embark on a journey of lifelong partnership, your blessings will yield a perennial harvest of good fortune whose abundance will never diminish," Mukesh Ambani said. “Today, my father Dhirubhai is also showering his profuse blessings from high up in the heavens. I am sure he is doubly happy because we are celebrating this joyous day in the life of his favourite grandson, Anant, in Jamnagar."
Jamnagar became the “karmabhoomi" for him and his father, and a place where they found their mission, passion, and purpose, he said.
“Jamnagar was a totally barren land, it was a desert thirty years ago. What you see now is the realisation of Dhirubhai’s dream. Jamnagar became the turning point in the history of Reliance," said Ambani. “It continues to be a place where we launch futuristic businesses and unique philanthropic initiatives."
His family’s sole aim is to enhance India’s prosperity and contribute to the well-being of the planet and all its people, Mukesh Ambani said.
“In all humility, I say that Jamnagar will give you a glimpse of the rise of a New India that is vibrant, optimistic, and full of self-confidence," he told his guests.
Speaking about his son Anant, Mukesh Ambani said that in Sanskrit the name means “That which has no end; infinite".
“I see infinite potential in Anant! Main Anant mein Anant Shakti dekhta hoon," he said. “Whenever I see Anant, I see my father Dhirubhai in him…..his same can-do, will-do, nothing-is-impossible attitude."
In Radhika, Anant has found an ideal life partner, said Mukesh Ambani.
“She is a reservoir of immense creative energy. She is a quiet fountain of love and care. Quite aptly, Radhika has the name of Lord Krishna’s favourite consort. Radhika and Anant. Anant and Radhika. Yeh toh Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi hai," he said.
The inaugural day of the festivities has the theme ‘An Evening in Everland’, where guests are expected to adorn themselves in sophisticated cocktail attire.
The event, promising an enchanting start to the festivities, commenced at 5.30 pm.
“Our dear guests and friends, finally, remember that three days of exciting and unforgettable festivities await all of you," said the RIL chairman. “Nita has conceptualised each one of them. She has single-handedly put them all together by working tirelessly for several months. With her eye for detail, with her focus on aesthetics, and with her passion for perfection. Even I don’t know, after four decades of being her life partner, where she gets this limitless energy from. I can only guess that she gets it from her devotion to Maa Amba and her infinite love for her children. Therefore, I ask all of you to sing, dance, and immerse yourself in each of these festivities."
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