The stars came out for Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's sangeet in Mumbai.
A sangeet is a traditional pre-wedding ceremony, particularly in North India and Punjabi traditions, involving lots of festive dancing and celebratory songs.
After an eye-popping pre-wedding celebration and a multi-day luxury European cruise party, the couple’s grand nuptials are set to be held in a three-day Mumbai celebration starting on July 12.
On Friday, Ambani and Merchant celebrated with friends and family at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre under the theme “celebration of hearts”.
Their invite, which The National saw, promised guests a “night of song, dance and wonder” with a dress code of “Indian regional glam”.
And glam is only one way to describe the outfits seen at the event, with everyone from Bollywood A-listers to cricket stars in attendance.
The bride and groom made a stunning debut with outfits made with real gold and crystals by the fashion duo Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla. Ambani wore a royal-blue embroidered bandhgala suit, with zari threading made with real gold.
Merchant glittered in a glitzy golden traditional lehenga. Inspired by a chandelier, the outfit displayed a beautiful array of pastel colours. The ensemble featured an off-shoulder crystal statement blouse paired with a multi-paneled lehenga skirt, both adorned with Swarovski crystals.
Her soon-to-be mother-in-law Nita Ambani shined in a custom-made lehenga in bright pink by Falguni Shane Peacock. Her lehenga was encrusted with hints of ruby, emeralds and diamonds. She styled the outfit with a diamond-studded matha patti, chunky necklace, dangling earrings, rings and a stack of bangles for the occasion.
Isha Ambani Piramal, Anant’s sister, stunned in a royal blue custom couture saree designed by Italian fashion house Schiaparelli. She paired it with a silver blouse and polki jewellery. This was just one of three outfits she wore at the sangeet.
Bollywood star Deepika Paduokone dazzled in a custom-made organza purple saree by Torani and complemented the outfit with elegant golden jewellery with her hair tied in a sleek bun.
Other styles that shone include actress Alia Bhatt and actor-husband Ranbir Kapoor matching in black, while actress Sara Ali Khan sparkled in gold. Actress Madhuri Dixit also donned a gold ensemble for the event.
Actress Jahnvi Kapoor wore a sparkling blue mermaid-style lehenga custom-made and designed by Manish Malhotra. She matched it with a sparkly blouse.
Cricket stars also shined with former India captain M S Dhoni donning a white, floral kurta and jacket while his wife Sakshi shined in her lehenga designed by Rahul Mishra.
Hardik Pandya wore a black and white ombre sherwani with intricated design, while his brother Kunal Pandya wore similar colours but in a more traditional sherwani.
The pre-wedding celebrations will continue until next week, when the couple’s grand nuptials are set to be held in a three-day Mumbai celebration.
The main wedding ceremony, also known as shubh vivaah, will take place on July 12 at Mumbai’s Jio World Convention Centre, a 7.4 hectare business and cultural district owned by the Ambani family’s Reliance Industries. Guests expected to wear traditional Indian attire.
The next day will be the “shubh aashirdwad” (the latter word meaning blessings) ceremony on July 13, featuring a dress code of Indian formal. Finally, celebrations will culminate in “mangal utsav” or the wedding reception on July 14, with the theme of Indian chic.
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Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
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Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
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Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
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Premier League
Wednesday, June 17 (Kick-offs uae times) Aston Villa v Sheffield United 9pm; Manchester City v Arsenal 11pm
Friday, June 19 Norwich v Southampton 9pm; Tottenham v Manchester United 11pm
Saturday, June 20 Watford v Leicester 3.30pm; Brighton v Arsenal 6pm; West Ham v Wolves 8.30pm; Bournemouth v Crystal Palace 10.45pm
Sunday, June 21 Newcastle v Sheffield United 2pm; Aston Villa v Chelsea 7.30pm; Everton v Liverpool 10pm
Monday, June 22 Manchester City v Burnley 11pm (Sky)
Tuesday, June 23 Southampton v Arsenal 9pm; Tottenham v West Ham 11.15pm
Wednesday, June 24 Manchester United v Sheffield United 9pm; Newcastle v Aston Villa 9pm; Norwich v Everton 9pm; Liverpool v Crystal Palace 11.15pm
Thursday, June 25 Burnley v Watford 9pm; Leicester v Brighton 9pm; Chelsea v Manchester City 11.15pm; Wolves v Bournemouth 11.15pm
Sunday June 28 Aston Villa vs Wolves 3pm; Watford vs Southampton 7.30pm
Monday June 29 Crystal Palace vs Burnley 11pm
Tuesday June 30 Brighton vs Manchester United 9pm; Sheffield United vs Tottenham 11.15pm
Wednesday July 1 Bournemouth vs Newcastle 9pm; Everton vs Leicester 9pm; West Ham vs Chelsea 11.15pm
Thursday July 2 Arsenal vs Norwich 9pm; Manchester City vs Liverpool 11.15pm
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ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
The five pillars of Islam
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2.
3.
4.
5.
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