Isha-Anand, families in tow, kick off pre-wedding celebrations with 'Anna Seva' in Udaipur
Antilia and Gulita, the families' Mumbai homes, have been decked up ahead of the wedding.
By ET Online | Updated:
Agencies
From left: Anant Ambani, Ajay and Swati Piramal, Isha and Anand, Nita and Mukesh Ambani at Udaipur's Narayan Seva Sansthan.
The Ambanis and Piramals kicked off the pre-wedding festivities for their children Isha and Anand in Udaipur with an Anna Seva. The families will feed 5,100 people, many with special abilities, three times a day till Monday.
Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani along with wife Nita and children Isha and Anant, and Ajay, Swati and Anand Piramal conducted the Anna Seva service at Udaipur's Narayan Seva Sansthan today.
Bride-to-be Isha Ambani serves food during the Anna Seva.
As the city gears up to play host to the Ambani-Piramal celebrations, there is a retinue of celebrities headed to the city of lakes for the big pre-wedding bash. Isha, the daughter of Mukesh Ambani, will tie the knot with Piramal scion Anand on Wednesday in Mumbai, but the families are hosting their guests in Udaipur over the weekend to kick off the pre-wedding festivities.
Mukesh and Nita Ambani at the Anna Seva in Udaipur. For the pre-wedding festivities, the families have curated a exhibition, Swadesh Bazaar, that will showcase 108 traditional, Indian craft and art forms for guests. Over 30 types of textiles and weaves ranging from Kanjeevaram, Patola to Chikankari and Bandhani will be a part of the exhibition, while artists showcasing ancient painting forms like Gond, Madhubani, Phad, Warli and Thangka, along with weavers, potters and sculptures have also been roped in for the carnival. The Ambanis and Piramals interact with specially-abled children at the Narayan Seva Sansthan in Udaipur. A statement released by the families, said, "Swadesh Bazaar is a unique concept to encourage the craftsmanship of traditional Indian artisans, especially for a lot of indigenous crafts that need conservation and revival, and have been supported by Reliance Foundation over the years. The Foundation aims to broaden and deepen its support to the goals of Swadesh Bazaar on a bigger and more sustainable scale in future."
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Earlier, designer Manish Malhotra, who is staying at the Oberoi Udaivilas in the city, and was one of the first guests to arrive on Thursday, took to Instagram to share a picture with the bride-to-be.
The pre-wedding rituals will also include a Maha Arti.According to pictures that have gone viral on social media, a massive structure of Lord Shri Nath ji has been set up at the venue.
A post shared by ŠīŊīŊīŊ (@padharo_mahre_desh) on
Not just Indian newsmakers, but American political biggies - former US Secretaries of State Hilary Clinton and John Kerry - are also rumoured to be on the guest list. Grapevine has it that the line-up includes performances by Priyanka Chopra, A R Rahman and Arijit Singh.
Meanwhile in Mumbai, Antilia - the Ambani residence that will host the wedding, is being decked up with red flowers for the big day.
Policemen sit in front of a decorated wall outside Antilia. Isha and Anand's sea-facing 50,000 sq ft future-home is also undergoing some last minute renovation before it is ready for the couple. A wedding gift to them from Ajay and Swati Piramal, the five-storey bungalow at Worli Sea Face was bought by the Piramals six years ago from Hindustan Unilever Ltd for Rs 452.5 crore.
Gulita, as the bungalow is called, has also been decorated with gendaphool (marigolds) for their welcome.
The 50,000 sq ft bungalow on Worli Sea Face has been decorated with marigold flowers. After the Udaipu celebrations, the families will return to Mumbai to host a wedding with close family and friends at the Ambani residence, followed by two receptions.
From left: Anand Piramal with Anant, Mukesh and Isha Ambani. Ajay and Swati Piramal's son, Anand, had proposed to Isha at a temple in Mahabaleshwar, earlier this year. The families began the celebrations soon after the proposal with a Ghor Dana in May at Antilia, a three-day engagement bash at the picturesque Lake Como in September, and a Graha Shanti puja last month.
Mukesh and Nita Ambani have also visited several temples across the country, including Siddhivinayak, Kedarnath-Badrinath, Tirupati, Guruvayoor, Sri Ramanathaswamy and Ambaji shrines, to offer the wedding invitation and seek blessings.
Isha Ambani, Anand Piramal's Lake Como Engagement: Priyanka-Nick, Kapoor Clan Step It Up
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Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal's three-day extravagant engagement celebrations kicked off on Friday in Lake Como, with the who's who of Bollywood descending to the foothills of the Alps to party with two of India's biggest business families.
As the celebrations continue for Mukesh Ambani's daughter and Ajay Piramal's son, rumour has it that day 2 will see the families and guests party at two different venues - Villa Gastel (below right) and Villa Olmo (top right).
Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal's three-day extravagant engagement celebrations kicked off on Friday in Lake Como, with the who's who of Bollywood descending to the foothills of the Alps to party with..
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Actress Priyanka Chopra and fiancé Nick Jonas who were previously in Oklahoma living the 'ranch life', kept it traditional in Lake Como for the Ambani bash. The couple opted for Manish Malhotra ensembles for day 1 of the celebrations.
The ace designer had reached Italy with Natasha and Adar Poonawalla.
In Pic (from left): Manish Malhotra, Priyanka Chopra, and Nick Jonas.
(Image: Instagram/ManishMalhotra)
Actress Priyanka Chopra and fiancé Nick Jonas who were previously in Oklahoma living the 'ranch life', kept it traditional in Lake Como for the Ambani bash. The couple opted for Manish Malhotra ensem..
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'Dhadak' actress and Sridevi's daughter Janhvi Kapoor made for a gorgeous sight at the celebrations. It was the classic combination of a black gown and red lips for the star, who was dressed in Nedo & Nedret Taciroglu Couture for the celebrations.
(Image: Instagram/TanyaGhavri)
'Dhadak' actress and Sridevi's daughter Janhvi Kapoor made for a gorgeous sight at the celebrations. It was the classic combination of a black gown and red lips for the star, who was dressed in Nedo ..
Read More
Actress Sonam Kapoor and beau Anand Ahuja, who posed for a dreamy picture, were among the guests at the celebrations. Kapoor-Ahuja opted for a Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla lehenga, gifted by mother-in-law Priya Ahuja, and added some sparkle with mom Sunita Kapoor's jewellery.
Celebrity make-up artist Namrata Soni, who is also in Italy, worked with the star to complete the look.
(Image: Instagram/SonamKAhuja)
Actress Sonam Kapoor and beau Anand Ahuja, who posed for a dreamy picture, were among the guests at the celebrations. Kapoor-Ahuja opted for a Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla lehenga, gifted by mother-in-law..
Read More
Actor Anil Kapoor who was also among the Kapoor clan at the engagement kept it classic in a Dolce & Gabbana tuxedo, paired with a Giorgio Armani bow-tie, and completed his look with shoes from Dior.
(Image: Instagram/AnilKapoor)
Actor Anil Kapoor who was also among the Kapoor clan at the engagement kept it classic in a Dolce & Gabbana tuxedo, paired with a Giorgio Armani bow-tie, and completed his look with shoes from Dior.
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