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Time of India
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Anant and Radhika Ambani's wedding ceremony: One year since a celebration that transcended borders and honoured Indian culture
Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's wedding was a grand display of Indian culture. The wedding highlighted traditions and spiritual values. It featured Vedic chants and a Banaras recreation. Global leaders and spiritual figures attended. The family emphasized service, including a mass wedding for underprivileged couples. The event showcased India's heritage to a global audience. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads It has been a year since Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's wedding, an event that not only dominated headlines but also defined a moment in India's cultural history. In July 2024, the Ambani wedding became a powerful showcase of India's traditions, spiritual depth, and unrivalled sacred Vedic chants resonating across Jamnagar to the immersive recreation of Banaras at Mumbai's Jio World Centre, every detail carried intent. This was opulence and a deliberate affirmation of India's Sanskriti (culture), Samrataa (harmony), and Sambandh (connection).At a time when weddings are often reduced to photo ops and viral reels, the Ambani wedding chose a different path. From Grah Shanti and Shiv Shakti Puja to soulful Bhajans and the celebratory Sangeet, each ritual was performed with a sense of reverence rarely seen at such high-profile was lived-in, authentic, and a heartfelt nod to customs that have endured for approach resonated far beyond Indian shores. With live broadcasts, social media coverage, and guests documenting every nuance, the wedding became a moment of soft power for India, projecting its art, attire, and ethos to a global audience of has a wedding brought together such a diverse group of global leaders, spiritual figures, and cultural icons. Heads of state, captains of industry, and celebrities from across continents participated in ceremonies that were as spiritually profound as they were visually leaders from across the Vedic tradition offered blessings. And, global dignitaries immersed themselves in a world where Bharat's ancient soul met contemporary before the festivities began, the Ambani family anchored the wedding in acts of service. At a Samuhik Vivah, 50 underprivileged couples were married with dignity and joy. Community kitchens served meals to over 1,000 people daily for three weeks. Even household staff from Ambani residences across cities were invited to a special reception, which was an acknowledgement of the unseen hands that make grand events a culture where celebration is inseparable from sharing, this emphasis on seva felt both traditional and the wedding day, the venue transformed into 'An Ode to Banaras', a living, breathing homage to one of India's most sacred cities. Guests wandered through recreated alleys of Kashi, past artisans at work and the aroma of age-old cuisines, experiencing the city's timeless rhythms within Mumbai's ultramodern dress code was strictly Indian. Guests adorned themselves in shimmering sarees, handwoven textiles, and tailored bandhgalas, each ensemble reinforcing the narrative: this was India at its most the Ambani-Merchant wedding stands as more than a memory of excess or elegance. It has set a benchmark for how India celebrates, rooted in faith, informed by history, and unafraid to embrace grandeur as a vehicle for redefined what a modern Indian wedding could be. Not just a family affair, but a cultural statement. A moment when ancient wisdom and contemporary ambition found common ground, and when celebration began, as it should, with service.
Economic Times
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Anant and Radhika Ambani's wedding ceremony: One year since a celebration that transcended borders and honoured Indian culture
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel It has been a year since Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's wedding, an event that not only dominated headlines but also defined a moment in India's cultural history. In July 2024, the Ambani wedding became a powerful showcase of India's traditions, spiritual depth, and unrivalled sacred Vedic chants resonating across Jamnagar to the immersive recreation of Banaras at Mumbai's Jio World Centre, every detail carried intent. This was opulence and a deliberate affirmation of India's Sanskriti (culture), Samrataa (harmony), and Sambandh (connection).wedding philanthropy:At a time when weddings are often reduced to photo ops and viral reels, the Ambani wedding chose a different path. From Grah Shanti and Shiv Shakti Puja to soulful Bhajans and the celebratory Sangeet, each ritual was performed with a sense of reverence rarely seen at such high-profile was lived-in, authentic, and a heartfelt nod to customs that have endured for approach resonated far beyond Indian shores. With live broadcasts, social media coverage, and guests documenting every nuance, the wedding became a moment of soft power for India, projecting its art, attire, and ethos to a global audience of has a wedding brought together such a diverse group of global leaders, spiritual figures, and cultural icons. Heads of state, captains of industry, and celebrities from across continents participated in ceremonies that were as spiritually profound as they were visually leaders from across the Vedic tradition offered blessings. And, global dignitaries immersed themselves in a world where Bharat's ancient soul met contemporary before the festivities began, the Ambani family anchored the wedding in acts of service. At a Samuhik Vivah, 50 underprivileged couples were married with dignity and joy. Community kitchens served meals to over 1,000 people daily for three weeks. Even household staff from Ambani residences across cities were invited to a special reception, which was an acknowledgement of the unseen hands that make grand events a culture where celebration is inseparable from sharing, this emphasis on seva felt both traditional and the wedding day, the venue transformed into 'An Ode to Banaras', a living, breathing homage to one of India's most sacred cities. Guests wandered through recreated alleys of Kashi, past artisans at work and the aroma of age-old cuisines, experiencing the city's timeless rhythms within Mumbai's ultramodern dress code was strictly Indian. Guests adorned themselves in shimmering sarees, handwoven textiles, and tailored bandhgalas, each ensemble reinforcing the narrative: this was India at its most the Ambani-Merchant wedding stands as more than a memory of excess or elegance. It has set a benchmark for how India celebrates, rooted in faith, informed by history, and unafraid to embrace grandeur as a vehicle for redefined what a modern Indian wedding could be. Not just a family affair, but a cultural statement. A moment when ancient wisdom and contemporary ambition found common ground, and when celebration began, as it should, with service.
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
India to host international manuscript heritage conference in September
India will host the first-ever international Manuscript Heritage Conference in September, which will be attended by global scholars, thought leaders and cultural custodians in the subject. The three-day conference, titled 'Reclaiming India's Knowledge Legacy Through Manuscript Heritage', is being organised from September 11-13 in the national capital as part of the launch of the 'Gyan Bharatam Mission'. The conference will also commemorate Swami Vivekananda's Chicago address (September 11, 1893), symbolising India's intellectual and spiritual global vision, official sources said. The Centre had announced the 'Gyan Bharatam Mission' (GBM) in the Union Budget 2025–26, for reviving and expanding the vision of the National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM) launched in 2003. The GBM seeks to preserve, digitise, and disseminate manuscript knowledge, integrate it with modern technologies, and foster a new generation of scholars and institutions to carry the legacy forward. The conference will be graced by various eminent dignitaries of India, and will feature keynotes and participation by global scholars, thought leaders, and cultural custodians. There will also be numerous side events like an exhibition on Indian Manuscripts and Script Heritage, an exhibition of manuscripts inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World, live demonstrations of conservation and digitisation tools, along with hands-on workshops and a special space for startups in the field. The Union Culture Ministry has also invited original research papers, case studies, and conceptual frameworks to be presented on themes like, Conservation and Restoration of Manuscripts, Survey, Documentation, and Metadata Standards, Digitisation Tools, Platforms, and Protocols (HTR, AI, IIIF), Paleography, Codicology, and Script Training Initiatives and Legal and Ethical Aspects of Manuscript Custodianship. India possesses one of the richest manuscript heritages in the world, with an estimated 10 million ancient manuscripts. These span subjects like philosophy, science, medicine, literature, Vedic rituals, mathematics, astrology, vāstu, Sanskriti, and Indian arts and darśana — often in multiple scripts and languages and housed in institutions like temples, mathas, monasteries, Jaina Bhandāras, archives, libraries, and private collections, according to the Brochure for the event.
Indian Express
06-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Gandhian sites in Maharashtra's Wardha to get Rs 45-crore makeover
After the Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat, more Gandhian heritage sites in Maharashtra's Wardha district are set to get a makeover over the next 18 months, officials said. These sites — the Gandhi Smriti Bhavan, the Kasturba Kitchen and the Wardha Haat — are located within the campus of the Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Rural Industrialization (MGIRI), which functions under the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises. The MGIRI, which is funding the Rs 45-crore project, signed an MoU earlier this week with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), which will helm the conservation and restoration efforts. Experts who will carry out the project will be selected through a competitive bidding process and a detailed project report will be prepared soon, said officials. IGNCA Member-Secretary Sachchidanand Joshi said: 'After leaving Sabarmati Ashram [in 1933], Gandhi stayed at Wardha for two years, and pledged to only return after India got independence. The place became his home and a base for his freedom struggle activities.' Gandhi Smriti Bhavan served as a workspace for Mahatma Gandhi during the Independence struggle. The haat, or market, is associated with the All-India Village Industries Association established by Gandhi in 1934 to revive and improve village industries across India. Under the project, the Gandhi Smriti Bhavan and Kasturba Kitchen will be 'transformed into immersive, multimedia museums with prayer spaces', while the Wardha Haat will be converted into an artisan marketplace 'reviving Gandhian rural economy through crafts and culture'. 'The mandate is to preserve and conserve heritage buildings in the campus while also to ensure the MGIRI is ready as a centre for excellence to empower rural youth from the region,' Joshi said. Experts will carry out a structural assessment of the existing buildings on the complex. The IGNCA, which comes under the Ministry of Culture, is planning to introduce curated trails with digital storytelling on Gandhian philosophy. Life-size statues of Gandhi and traditional village artisans will narrate stories of rural India. Public facilities, cafes, souvenir shops, and guided tours have also been planned, Joshi said. Divya A reports on travel, tourism, culture and social issues - not necessarily in that order - for The Indian Express. She's been a journalist for over a decade now, working with Khaleej Times and The Times of India, before settling down at Express. Besides writing/ editing news reports, she indulges her pen to write short stories. As Sanskriti Prabha Dutt Fellow for Excellence in Journalism, she is researching on the lives of the children of sex workers in India. ... Read More
Fashion Value Chain
01-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Value Chain
Commitment of Kolhapuri Artisans to speak louder
Dr Vidhu Sekhar P Luxury fashion brand Prada's recent interest in Kolhapuri chappals has brought them into the global spotlight. This is a chance for Indian artisans and businesses to showcase their traditional footwear to the world. By staying true to our roots and focusing on sustainable practices, we can make Kolhapuri chappals a popular and unique global brand. Kolhapuri chappals have been an integral part of Indian culture for centuries, with artisans in Maharashtra and Karnataka perfecting the craft of making these handmade sandals. The controversy surrounding Prada's use of Kolhapuri chappal designs without proper acknowledgment has sparked a conversation about cultural appropriation and the importance of giving credit to the artisans who create these iconic sandals. To capitalize on the renewed interest in Kolhapuri chappals, businesses can adopt a triple-bottom-line approach by integrating sustainable practices, fair trade principles, and cultural sensitivity. This can be achieved by utilizing eco-friendly materials like vegetable-tanned leather and natural dyes, ensuring fair wages and safe working conditions for artisans, and acknowledging the rich cultural heritage of Kolhapuri chappals while giving due credit to the skilled artisans who craft them, ultimately promoting social responsibility and community development. By infusing modern designs and technology into traditional Kolhapuri chappals, businesses can expand their appeal to a broader audience and boost demand. This can be achieved through bespoke designs and customization options that cater to individual tastes, as well as leveraging technology to enable customers to design their own footwear, creating a unique and personalized experience. Additionally, incorporating modern silhouettes and designs into traditional Kolhapuri chappal styles can make them more attractive to a global audience, blending heritage with contemporary flair. By working directly with artisans and providing them with fair wages and working conditions, businesses can empower them to continue practicing their craft. This approach can help preserve traditional skills and promote community development. The Prada controversy has brought Kolhapuri chappals into the global spotlight, presenting an opportunity for artisans and businesses to capitalize on this renewed interest. Acknowledging the cultural heritage of Kolhapuri chappals and giving credit to artisans is crucial for promoting social responsibility and community development. Rather than engaging with brands that appropriate our cultural heritage, Kolhapuri artisans can focus on showcasing the beauty and richness of Indian wisdom and Sanskriti through our own products and practices. By embracing our cultural roots and values, we can create a unique brand identity that stands out in the global market. By rising above the noise of cultural appropriation and focusing on our own strengths, artisans can demonstrate the resilience and power of Indian culture. Our commitment to quality, sustainability, and community will ultimately speak louder than any attempts to appropriate or undermine our heritage. (Author is an Assistant Professor at National Institute of Fashion Technology, Ministry of Textiles, Govt of India)
