In pics: Anant Ambani-Radhika Merchant's mehendi ceremony

One of India's richest persons, Mukesh Ambani and his wife Nita's youngest son Anant Ambani's much-awaited wedding to Radhika Merchant is all set to take place on July 12 in Mumbai. And ahead of the grand wedding celebrations, an intimate Mehendi Ceremony and Garba Raas were hosted by the Merchants for Anant and Radhika on July 9 evening. The Ambanis too hosted a pooja ceremony followed by the Mehendi Ceremony for Anant and Radhika at their Mumbai home, Antilia, on July 10.

The first picture of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant from their Mehendi Ceremony is now out! While Anant chose an electric blue kurta-pant-jacket set, Radhika wore a matching lehenga for their Mehendi Ceremony which was held at the Ambani house Antilia, Mumbai on July 10. In this picture, Anant and Radhika are seen along with a Pandit ji.

Photo: Your Poookie Boo/ Instagram

The Ambanis hosted an intimate special pooja for Anant and Radhika followed by Mehendi Cremony at their home Antilia in Mumbai today (July 10). The mother of the groom, Nita Ambani was seen in a custom Ab Jani-Sandeep Khosla blue-green lehenga, which is apt for the occasion.

The matriarch of the Ambani khandaan, Kokilaben Ambani was spotted at Antilia today (July 10, 2024) checking the preparations for the pooja and mehendi ceremony for her grandson Anant and his to-be wife Radhika Merchant.
In an earlier interview, Kokilaben Ambani credited her husband the late Dhirubhai Ambani for mentoring her in life. Read more about it here.​

Anant Ambani and Isha Ambani's bhabhi, Shloka Mehta looked stunning in a regal look for Anant-Radhika's Mehendi Ceremony at Antilia on July 10, 2024. Shloka chose to wear a golden-green saree which was paired with her Nani's gold jewellery. Sharing details about Shloka's regal look, her stylist sister Diya Mehta Jatiya wrote on Instagram, "Feeling all the feels cause we styled this look using nani’s jewellery! Love when there’s a blend of tradition and fashion!"

Photo: Diya Mehta Jatiya/ Instagram

Seen in these pictures are the Samdhis of the Ambanis, namely: Swati Piramal (left), Ajay Piramal (center), and Russell Mehta (right). In the background, one can also spot Mrs. Mona Mehta. They were clicked at Antilia for Anant-Radhika's Mehendi Ceremony on July 10, 2024.

Seen at the Ambani's Pooja and Mehendi Ceremony were the Chacha and Chachi of the groom, Anil and Tina Ambani. The couple posed for the paps at Antilia on July 10.

The Ambanis' bash is incomplete with star-power! Seen in attendance at Anant-Radhika's Mehendi Ceremony in Antilia on July 10 were star kids Shanaya Kapoor and Ananya Pandey, actor Ranveer Singh, former Miss World Manushi Chhillar, filmmaker Atlee Kumar along with his wife Krishna Priya, among others.

Star kid and Bollywood actress Janhavi Kapoor attended Anant Ambani-Radhika Merchant's Mehendi Ceremony on July 10 along with her rumoured boyfriend Shikhar Pahariya.

Radhika Merchant's parents, Viren and Shaila Merchant too were clicked at Antilia for the Mehendi ceremony of their youngest daughter. For the unversed, Viren Merchant is the Founder and CEO of Encore Healthcare Pvt Ltd-- a Rs 2000 crores company, as per reports. Meanwhile, Shaila Merchant is also the Managing Director of the company. Read more details about Shaila Merchant here.​

Meet Anant Ambani's bua, Nina Kothari who is not seen much in the limelight. Just like her father, the late Dhirubhai Ambani, and her brother-- Mukesh and Anil, Nina Kothari too is a businessperson. She is the Chairperson of Kothari Sugars and Chemicals Limited. She also heads two other companies: Kothari Petrochemicals Limited and Kothari Safe Deposits Limited.

Anant Ambani's elder brother and Isha Ambani's twin, Akash was spotted wearing a green kurta-pants set for Anant-Radhika's Mehendi ceremony. Needless to say, Akash chose a classic colour for the ceremony. Akash was seen with his friend and politician Aditya Thackeray.

Former Indian cricket team captain and ace cricketer, Mahendra Singh Dhoni was also spotted with his wife Sakshi at Anant-Radhika's Mehendi Ceremony at the Ambani house Antilia in Mumbai on July 10, 2024.

Politician Uddhav Thackeray, his wife Rashme Thackeray, and son Aditya Thackeray were seen in attendance at Mukesh Ambani's Mumbai house Antilia for Anant-Radhika's mehendi ceremony on July 10.

Meanwhile, the sister of the groom, Isha Ambani Piramal was seen wearing a green Anuradha Vakil lehenga for the Mehendi and Garba celebrations hosted by the Merchants on July 9. Her attire was styled in a typical South Indian style, a look that Isha experimented with for the first time. Seen in the background is a picture of Nita Ambani from her wedding day-- which reflects Isha's tribute to her mother.

The Ambani 'Choti Bahu', Radhika Merchant's elder sister Anjali Merchant Majithia looked stunning in a beautiful orange-yellow lehenga which she wore for the Mehendi ceremony on July 9. For the unversed, Anjali is an entrepreneur and she is also one of the Board Members (along with Radhika) in their father Viren Merchant's pharmaceutical company-- Encore Healthcare Pvt Ltd. Anjali Merchant is married to businessman Aman Majithia, and the couple have a son named Aryan Majithia.

Bride-to-be Radhika Merchant's mom, Shaila Merchant too looked stunning in a rani pink lehenga which she wore for the festivities on July 9. Shaila Merchant, who is a businesswoman in her right, is quite famous for her stylish looks and beauty. Read more about Shaila Merchant here.

Hindu weddings are incomplete without applying mehendi or henna to the bride and groom. This tradition called the Mehendi Ceremony, is considered to be an important part of the solah shringar (16 steps of getting ready) for the bride-to-be, as per ancient texts. In this ritual, the mehendi or henna is applied to the hands and feet of the to-be bride; as the mehendi is considered to be auspicious, women family members and female friends of the bride also get the mehendi done on their hands. This fun-filled event is followed by dancing and singing throughout the evening.

Traditionally, the Mehendi Ceremony is organised a day or two before the main wedding day. As Mehendi, when applied to the hands and feet, has cooling properties, logically it helps the to-be bride stay calm before the big day. Also, since the to-be bride won't be able to move much after applying the mehendi, it gives her ample time to rest. On the other hand, mehendi is also considered to bring good luck, joy, beauty, and its aroma is believed to have aphrodisiac properties! Not just this, many people also believe that a bride's dark mehendi colour also signifies the deep love between the new couple. A playful tradition also involves writing the groom's name hidden in the bride's mehendi-- which the groom later has to find!