Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury
When Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Asia's richest person Mukesh Ambani, marries Radhika Merchant in Mumbai this week, traffic in a key part of the city will come to a standstill. This four-day extravaganza, featuring celebrities, business elites, and politicians, has been classified by police as a "public event" due to the presence of international and Indian VIPs.
Roads near the Jio World Convention Centre, owned by the Ambani's Reliance conglomerate and located in Mumbai's central business district, will be closed to regular traffic from 1 p.m. to midnight from July 12 to 15. Only vehicles associated with the event will be allowed, causing frustration among locals, especially since Mumbai is already notorious for its heavy traffic, particularly during the monsoon season.
The area around the venue has already seen a slowdown in traffic as it is being decorated with lights and red flowers. The Ambani's 27-story mansion, Antilia, is also adorned with marigolds and bright yellow lights.
Although the organizers are keeping the guest list private, it's expected to be a star-studded affair. Last week, Justin Bieber performed at a private pre-wedding concert, where he took photos with the bride and groom, who wore haute couture versions of traditional Indian attire. Earlier celebrations included a three-day pre-wedding event in Gujarat with a performance by Rihanna, attended by notable figures like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg. In May, the Ambanis hosted a luxury European cruise with 800 guests, including Bollywood stars and cricketers.
Social media has been flooded with videos and photos of recent celebrations, including one of the Ambani family lip-syncing and dancing to a Bollywood song, and another of Mukesh Ambani and his wife with their grandchildren.
The wedding, which will feature traditional Hindu rituals, is set for Friday, with a reception spread over two days. A special reception for Ambani's household staff is planned for Monday. Rajan Mehra, chief executive of Club One Air, mentioned that the Ambanis have hired three Falcon-2000 jets to ferry wedding guests, with over 100 private planes expected to be used for the events.
Many Mumbai residents are unhappy with the disruptions. Social media is buzzing with complaints, with users questioning the classification of the event as public and the special treatment it has received.