Anant & Radhika Ambani wedding ceremony: 365 days later, the culturally rich wedding that redefined India's global image

Time of India

12-07-2025

It's been a year since the union of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant, a wedding that didn't just make headlines but etched itself into the cultural consciousness of a nation. In July 2024, the Ambani wedding was not merely a spectacular celebration of love; it was a resounding showcase of India, which showcased its sacred traditions, spiritual depth, and boundless hospitality.
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From the hallowed chants at Jamnagar to the exquisite recreations of Banaras at the Jio World Centre, every element was steeped in meaning. It was a wedding that reaffirmed what India truly stands for - sanskriti, samarasata, and sambandh (culture, harmony, and connection).
More than a wedding: A cultural landmark
In an age of fast trends and fleeting moments, the Ambani wedding stood still, rooted firmly in the timelessness of Hindu customs. From Grah Shanti and Shiv Shakti Puja to the joyous Sangeet and soulful Bhajans, the couple chose to honour every ritual with reverence. It wasn't just a performance, it was a heartfelt prayer. It wasn't grandeur for spectacle's sake; it was tradition, celebrated and lived.
This authenticity touched a chord with people across the globe. The wedding became India's soft power moment with its art, attire, and ethos broadcast to billions, making the world pause and admire.
A gathering like no other
Never before had such a confluence of global dignitaries, spiritual leaders, and cultural icons gathered under one roof for a personal ceremony. From Prime Ministers and Presidents to CEOs and celebrities, every guest from Varanasi to Vienna was drawn into a world where Bharat was the soul of the experience.
Religious leaders from every corner of the Vedic spectrum blessed the couple. Heads of state and titans of industry joined in ceremonies that have been performed for millennia. It was India's unique ability to merge the spiritual with the spectacular.
Seva before celebration
Before the festivities began, the Ambani family anchored the moment in seva. A Samuhik Vivah (mass wedding) was held for 50 underprivileged couples. Daily community kitchens fed over 1,000 people for three weeks. In true Indian spirit, joy was shared, not hoarded.
Every staff member from the Ambani households, across cities, was invited for a special reception, ensuring those who make a home function were part of the celebration, too.
An ode to India's eternal soul
On the wedding day, the venue transformed into 'An Ode to Banaras', a sacred, living museum of the ghats, arts, crafts, and cuisines of one of the world's oldest cities. Guests walked through the recreated lanes of Kashi, absorbing the timeless rhythms of Indian spirituality.
The dress code, resplendently Indian, wasn't a formality. It became a tribute. Sarees shimmered, bandhgalas stood tall, and India's centuries-old textile traditions came alive, turning every guest into an ambassador of its beauty.
The legacy of a moment
One year later, what remains is not just the memory of a grand wedding, but a cultural benchmark. Anant and Radhika's union became a moment of reckoning for how India presents itself to the world: not as a country of contradictions, but of confluence. A nation where modern ambition bows to ancient wisdom. Where faith and fashion walk hand in hand. Where celebrations begin with service.