Anant Ambani & Radhika Merchant get engaged: 'Surprise ring bearer' takes part in ceremony

As everyone watched the star-studded engagement ceremony of industrialist Mukesh Ambani's youngest son Anant Ambani with Radhika Merchant at Antilia, the highlight of the night was the 'surprise ring bearer'.

While many would enlist the help of their friends or family to take on the responsibilities of being the ring bearer. On their special day, it was their family dog who did the honors.

In a video from the grand ceremony, the emcee can be seen inviting the 'surprise ring bearer' on stage and in came a happy, cheerful Golden Retriever. Everyone was seen dancing with heart-shaped cardboard in front of the couple. Anant Ambani's mother Nita Ambani also wowed the crow with a dance performance.



Meanwhile, the grand ceremony was done in a traditional manner where the couple performed old Gujarati rituals such as Gol Dhana and Chunari Vidhi. Gol Dhana is a pre-wedding ceremony in Gujarati tradition, which is a kind of engagement.

Gol Dhana (jaggery and coriander seeds) - a traditional Gujarati engagement ceremony - is distributed at the groom's place, where the event takes place. The families exchanged gifts and greetings as part of the pre-wedding Gujarati traditions.

The couple exchanged the rings after the Gol Dhana and Chunari Vidhi ceremonies. After exchanging the rings, the couple sought blessings from the elders in the family. Anant and Radhika have known each other for a few years.

The Merchant family received a warm welcome from the Ambanis at their residence amidst aarti and chanting of mantras.

Radhika is the daughter of Viren Merchant, the CEO of Encore Healthcare. She hails from Kutch, Gujarat. She has trained in Bharatnatyam for eight years and is the disciple of Guru Bhavana Thakar of Shree Nibha Arts.

(With inputs from ANI)