New Delhi: Mukesh Ambani's son Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant got formally engaged on Thursday amidst family, friends at the Ambani Residence (Antilia).
Age-old traditions such as the Gol Dhana and Chunari Vidhi were conducted in the family temple and ceremony areas even as the families exchanged gifts and greetings.
Members of the Ambani family led by Anant’s sister Isha went to the Merchant residence to invite them and Radhika to the evening’s functions. The Merchant family was received warmly by the Ambani family at their residence amidst Aarti and chanting of mantras.
The families followed Anant and Radhika to the temple to seek Lord Krishna’s blessings for the union and the evening ceremonies. At the ceremony venue, engagement functions started with a Ganesh puja followed by the reading of the traditional Lagan Patrika or the invitation to the upcoming wedding. Gol Dhana and the Chunari Vidhi followed with blessings and gifts exchanged between Anant and Radhika’s families.
Gol Dhana is a pre-wedding ceremony in Gujarati traditions, akin to an engagement. These items are distributed at the groom’s place where the event takes place. The bride’s family comes at the groom’s residence with gifts and sweets and then the couple exchanges rings. After exchanging rings the couple seek blessings from their elders.
Ambani family members also gave a surprise dance performance led by Nita Ambani.
Anant and Radhika then exchanged rings in front of family and friends and sought their blessings for their upcoming union.
Anant and Radhika have known each other for a few years. Anant completed his studies from Brown University in the USA and has since served at Reliance industries in various capacities including as a member on the Boards of Jio Platforms and Reliance Retail Ventures. He currently leads the energy business of RIL. Radhika, daughter of Shaila and Viren Merchant, is a graduate of New York University and serves as a Director on the Board of Encore Healthcare.