The Impact of Extravagant Pre-Marriage bash of Anant Ambani in Indian society

The pre-marriage celebration of the wealthiest man’s son, Anant Ambani, left everyone's jaws dropping. With every moment of the event covered around the clock by the electronic media, it was a windfall for them. Many saw this extensive coverage as nothing less than blessings upon the commoners, so everyone enjoyed it. Thanks to the wealth of Mukesh Ambani, Indians were able to witness things they would not have otherwise been able to experience. Money talks, money broadcasts, and money thus makes one go crazy. Besides top tycoons like Bill Gates, Ivanka Trump, and Mark Zuckerberg, pop sensation Rihanna was invited from America to liven up the occasion. Indeed, a great attraction for the event! Selected Bollywood celebrities also graced the event, adding to everyone's joy with their performances on stage. So, all performers were lavishly paid, with Rihanna herself said to have demanded a staggering 73 crore. Of course, this sheer level of extravagance and opulence is sure to set a benchmark in the world of wastefulness for the future. But it is none of our business to be judgmental.

However, while the magnificence of these celebrations may be out of reach for 99.9% of the population, they serve as a reminder of the exceptional lifestyles led by the super-wealthy and the fascination they command. It's as if marriage has become less about the wishes for “eternal love” and more about who can “outshine” all others with their flamboyant displays of wealth and excess. Ambani’s event has also given “legitimacy to extravagance,” silencing those who disagree.


I’m afraid, who can guarantee that, with the passage of time, such show-off practices will not become equivalent to the “scourge of dowry”? Despite being "outlawed,” the dowry practice continues to hold sway over the majority of Indian society. Much like how dowry culture has marred countless sacred marriages with domestic violence, holy matrimony is quite likely to be tainted by ostentatious displays of wealth and glamour infused with outrageous vulgarity. People will then not hold back from shaking their hips, matching the titillation of Rihanna, Britney Spears, and Beyoncé Knowles. Also, this trend, if left unchecked, could be one of the leading causes of societal decay. It is very likely that marital relationships will then be measured only in terms of money spent on flashy arrangements and provocative entertainment while traditional rituals and values just shrugged aside. Should we really want the whisper of mutual understanding, sacrifice, and love to be drowned out by the cacophony of frivolity and materialism?

Finally, I wish Mukesh Ambani had chosen to spend 50% of the money lavished on the pre-wedding bash on feeding the hungry instead, given the country's abysmal hunger index. God's blessings would have multiplied fiftyfold compared to what the Ambani families received from high-profile guests.