Kashmir’s rich cultural heritage is taking centre stage in the much-anticipated wedding of Anant Ambani, son of Asia’s richest man Mukesh Ambani, and Radhika Merchant. From the wedding invitations to the bridal attire, elements inspired by Kashmir’s craftsmanship are making this event a grand showcase of traditional art.
The lavish wedding invitation, which has become the talk of the town, includes a beautiful Pashmina shawl, reflecting the region’s exquisite textile heritage. This nod to Kashmir is a significant part of the invitation, highlighting the cultural appreciation embedded in this high-profile wedding.
Shloka Ambani, wife of Akash Ambani and sister-in-law to the groom, Anant, has also embraced Kashmiri traditions in her attire. She wore a stunning lehenga by Indian designer Tarun Tahiliani, inspired by the Kashmiri Jamawar shawl. The lehenga featured intricate Kasheeda work, a form of embroidery with Persian origins, known for its detailed and vibrant designs.
Tahiliani shared on Instagram, “@shloka11 wears our traditional Jamawar shawl inspired multi-coloured lehenga. Featuring intricate Kasheeda work over hand-painted artworks and further accentuated with kundan, the lehenga is paired with a complementing bejewelled sleeve blouse and dupatta.”
Kasheeda, as described by Rang Riwaaz’s blog Kasheeda-e-Kashmir, incorporates motifs like maple leaves and lotus flowers in vibrant colours, along with traditional paisley patterns. The embroidery is done in two main patterns: Aari, using a hooked needle known as crewel, and Sozni, which employs a satin stitch.
Radhika Merchant, the bride-to-be, has also embraced traditional Indian craftsmanship. She wore a Bandhani lehenga for her mameru night, further emphasising the celebration of India’s rich artisan heritage.
As the wedding day on July 12 at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai approaches, the excitement continues to build.
Mukesh and Nita have two sons – Akash and Anant and a daughter Isha. Akash and Isha are twins and are married. Anant’s marriage is the richest family’s last marriage of the next generation. With his net worth is estimated to be around US $118 billion, Mukesh is the ninth-richest person in the world
The extravagant wedding invitation box, designed to resemble a temple, features intricate details and divine imagery, including a small silver temple that opens to the sound of Hindi mantras. Inside, gold idols of Hindu deities such as Lord Ganesh and Radha-Krishna are displayed, adding a spiritual touch to the grand affair. The last item in the very expensive invitation box was an authentic Pashmina Shawl with a certificate that Kashmir artisans produced it.
Nita Ambani, it may be recalled here, hold an influence in India’s craft sector as the Nita Mukesh Foundation has been working on promoting the crafts including the Kashmir handicrafts. In May 2023 and earlier, as chairperson of the Reliance Foundation, she interacted personally with artisans at the SWADESH experience zone at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC). She met Kashmir’s Pashmina weavers and expressed her admiration for the intricate traditional arts showcased. The exhibition highlighted a variety of traditional crafts such as Pichwai, Tanjore, Pattachitra, Patola, Venkatagiri, Benaras, Paithan weaves, Kashmiri crafts, and Jaipur’s Blue Pottery.
