Summits to shaadis: Mahatma Mandir set to host weddings

Gandhinagar: The Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre (MMCC), located in state capital Gandhinagar, which was the venue for prestigious govt business events such as the biennial Vibrant Gujarat Global Summits (VGGS), will soon be open for hosting weddings, religious gatherings and other social events. The mega convention centre will be branded and marketed as an iconic wedding destination, top sources in govt said.Notably, the state finance minister, Kanubhai Desai, while presenting the state govt's budget for the year 2026-27 earlier this month, announced plans to launch a ‘Wed in Gujarat' programme. The project aims to position the state as a premier destination for weddings by leveraging its religious heritage, expansive coastline, desert landscape and iconic landmarks.
"Mahatma Mandir has attained significant brand recall as a top venue in Gujarat over the years, with world leaders descending here as part of VGGS. However, it remains unutilised for a majority of the time during the year, as the govt's policy allows the MMCC to be rented out only for govt and corporate events," said a senior official in the govt. Located in Sector 13 in Gandhinagar, the MMCC is one of the country's biggest convention centres, spread over an area of 34 acres. Constructed at a cost of about Rs 215 crore, it was inaugurated in 2011.Sources said that, in order to optimise the potential of the venue, the govt decided to allow it to be rented out for weddings, religious gatherings and the like. "The Leela Group, which has been managing the MMCC, was asked to chalk out a marketing strategy. In addition, the state govt will aggressively brand the MMCC as a wedding destination," sources said.According to the govt, Mahatma Mandir offers all the requirements that a destination wedding entails. "The main hall has a seating capacity of 10,000, and other halls together have another 10,000 capacity. In addition, the MMCC has a large parking facility and is close to the airport and Ahmedabad city. It is the ideal destination for weddings in all seasons," said an official.Commenting on the proposed rent that is expected to be charged for using the MMCC as a wedding venue or for religious functions, officials said that, being a govt asset, the rent would be much lower than private plots or venues. "All aspects of the venue being rented out are presently being worked out," an official said.The govt's proposed ‘Wed in Gujarat' scheme seeks to market the state as a culturally rich and visually grand venue for destination weddings, curating multiple religious, coastal and heritage circuits under a unified branding strategy. Officials said locations such as Somnath Temple, Dwarkadhish Temple and Ambaji Temple will be promoted alongside marquee attractions like the Statue of Unity, the Rann Utsav and Shivrajpur Beach. The campaign will highlight the state's traditions, hospitality and architectural splendour to attract high-end wedding events from across India and abroad.