Despite the extravagance, the Ambani wedding is showcasing India's rich cultural heritage and supporting artisans. Shouldn't we revel in the spectacle and celebrate the good it brings? The #Newsdesk reports…

Criticizing the Ambanis for celebrating an auspicious occasion in a grand manner overlooks the contributions they make to society. The business run by the Ambani family employs a vast number of people and is known for its extensive charity work. Nita Ambani, in particular, is dedicated to promoting the arts and supporting talented artists and artisans. By showcasing ethnic wear and traditional crafts, she helps preserve and promote cultural heritage, providing a platform for craftsmen and women. These celebrations are not just extravagant displays of wealth; they are opportunities to support the arts. Let’s enjoy the visual splendour and recognize the positive impact these events have on sustaining cultural traditions and supporting livelihoods.  

The wedding is probably the biggest ever in India or should we say the Indian subcontinent, perhaps even Asia! Despite all the controversies surrounding the splurge, we have to give it to the immensely powerful and successful couple, Nita and Mukesh Ambani, to have brought the globe together through this long-running saga of celebrations being held for almost one year now, which include pre-wedding events in Jamnagar, Gujarat and a spectacular Italian cruise where the who’s who from India and the world were seen.

Well, it’s not over yet. We’re in the midst of the wedding, with the Sangeet and Haldi done and a breathless wait for the next few events leading up to the wedding on the 12th of July with receptions to follow.

This wedding will unite Anant Ambani, youngest son of the richest man in Asia, and Radhika Merchant, who works for her family’s pharma empire. It is widely believed that it is going to set trends for years to come and showcase ethnic cultures fused with edgy modern strokes in the finery and jewellery that is on display as one function after another unfolds.

The Sangeet ceremony on Friday the 5th of July bonded both families and their Bollywood superstar guests through music—in this case, a viral frenzy-causing concert by Justin Bieber. Earlier, the Garba set the bar high for style. The bride stunned in an opulent deep amethyst three-piece lehenga set - a “fashion spectacle.”

The ongoing extravaganza will start closing with the July 12 wedding ceremony, auspiciously timed, in the Ambanis’ sprawling cultural hub, Jio World Centre. More fêtes, including a grand reception, will ensue over the following two days in the home of the groom’s parents, Mukesh and Nita Ambani. If one is to believe the buzz going around, then the surprise performers for the wedding could be Drake, Adele, and Lana Del Rey.

Merchant has already showcased an edgy fashion sense, from a sparkling corseted lehenga by Manish Malhotra, to pink Versace with Hollywood provenance, to a 3D-printed toga by Grace Ling. Manish Malhotra has custom-created an entire “collection” for the bride, including a sumptuous orange and rani pink lehenga with real gold zari embroidery, and an uber-glam chainmail saree for an after-party. Bollywood favourite Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla custom-designed the couple’s ornately embroidered Sangeet ensembles. Looks from Rahul Mishra, Anuradha Vakil and bridal and eveningwear couturier Sabyasachi are also expected according to reports.

For the mameru, a traditional ceremony where the maternal uncle (mama) of the bride visits her, and mausala, a ceremony where the groom’s mother’s family blesses the couple, women donned bandhani and leheriya outfits, two traditional crafts from Gujarat.

Isha Ambani Piramal wore a custom look by designer Arpita Mehta, which paid a tribute to the art of bandhani. Nita Ambani wore an ivory lehenga by Manish Malhotra, which was complemented by a woven Banarasi tissue dupatta with zari borders. Shloka Ambani wore a bandhani look by Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla, while for the garba night, she wore an embroidered lehenga by Tarun Tahiliani.

“I look at Radhika with a mothering eye,” Isha Ambani told Vogue India in her Law Roach–styled cover feature. At her 2018 wedding reception, Isha dazzled in the first-ever lehenga designed by Maison Valentino. Couturiers Falguni Shane Peacock designed Isha’s diamond-and-pearl-encrusted ivory lehenga for the first pre-wedding Jamnagar bash in March.

As the only daughter, Isha regularly borrows the most jaw-dropping pieces from her mom’s collection for important occasions. Both mother and daughter look to Mumbai-based jeweller Viren Bhagat for special and family affairs. Shloka Mehta, Isha’s twin brother Akash’s wife, hails from the family that runs Rosy Blue Group, one of the world’s largest diamond traders and suppliers.

The celebrity stylists working overtime on this extravaganza are Anaita Shroff Adajania, Rhea Kapoor and Shaleena Nathani—who also styled Merchant for her Mediterranean cruise.

Events like this particular grand wedding create employment opportunities and showcase the arts, music, design, and crafts, bringing recognition and financial support to grassroots and indigenous talent. By placing traditional craftsmanship on a prominent stage, the Ambanis offer pathways for many to improve their livelihoods. In a society where disparities often overshadow talent, these events create positive ripple effects of celebrating artistry on a grand scale.