Ambani scion Anant gets engaged to Radhika Merchant

Mumbai: Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani's son Anant Ambani and Viren Merchant and Shaila Merchant's daughter Radhika got formally engaged on Thursday amidst family, friends and revered traditions at the Ambani Residence.

"According to age-old traditions followed by Gujarat Hindu families, they performed Gol Dhana and Chunari Vidhi at the family temple and the families exchanged gifts and greetings, bonhomie and fun. They were also treated to a surprise performance by Ambani family members, led by Nita Ambani, Anant’s mother," a statement issued by the Ambani family said.

Gol Dhana, which literally means jaggery and coriander seeds, is a pre-wedding ceremony in Gujarati traditions. It symbolises an engagement. These items are distributed at the groom’s place where the event takes place. The bride’s family comes at the groom’s residence with gifts and sweets and then the couple exchanges rings. After exchanging rings the couple seek blessings from their elders.

The evening’s festivities started with members of the Ambani family led by Anant’s sister Isha going to the Merchant residence to invite them and Radhika to the evening’s functions. The Merchant family was received warmly by the Ambani family at their residence amidst Aarti and chanting of mantras.

The families followed Anant and Radhika to the temple to seek Lord Krishna’s blessings for the union and the evening’s ceremonies. From there the group moved to the ceremony venue to start the functions with a Ganesh puja followed by the reading of the traditional Lagan Patrika or the invitation to the upcoming wedding.

Anant and Radhika later exchanged rings in front of family and friends and sought their blessings for their upcoming union.