![Indian tycoon launches mass weddings to celebrate son's nuptials](https://www.portugalcolonial.pt/media/shared/articles/9a/e5/ac/Indian-tycoon-launches-mass-wedding-248979.jpg)
-
Wolves' Kilman reunites with Lopetegui at West Ham
-
Schmidt reign off to winning start as Australia beat Wales 25-16
-
Russian wrestlers reject Olympics invitation
-
Raducanu rediscovers Wimbledon 'fun' factor after turbulent spell
-
Winning all that matters at Euro 2024 for Mbappe's minimalist France
-
Eight dead, two million affected by Bangladesh floods
-
Robertson pleased to 'find a way' past England in tough Test baptism
-
Martin sets lap record to secure German MotoGP pole
-
'Shattered' Germany set sights on World Cup after Euros exit
-
Olympic hope Pedersen pulls out of Tour de France
-
Djokovic eyes sweet 16 at Wimbledon as Swiatek takes on 'gangster'
-
End beckons again for Ronaldo after Portugal Euros KO
-
New Zealand edge England 16-15 in tense, brutal first Test
-
Turkey take on Dutch in politically charged Euros quarter-final, England face Swiss
-
Calling for better ties with West, Iran reformist wins presidency
-
Cybercrime groups restructuring after major takedowns: experts
-
Activists hail Sierra Leone child marriage ban, urge action on FGM
-
Marsch relishing Canada's semi clash with Argentina
-
Canada stun Venezuela on penalties to reach Copa semis
-
Iran reformist Pezeshkian holds early lead in runoff vote
-
Swiatek faces 'gangster' threat, Djokovic feels need for Wimbledon speed
-
France holds its breath ahead of uncertain vote
-
Starmer begins UK 'rebuild' after landslide election win
-
Paris's Moulin Rouge inaugurates new windmill sails ahead of Olympics
-
Pan, Rai share halfway lead in PGA John Deere Classic
-
'I was feeling terrible' in debate, Biden says in TV interview
-
France coach Deschamps savours ending penalty hoodoo, defends Mbappe
-
Thompson bids farewell to Warriors after exit
-
Portugal exit Euros with pride, will return stronger: Martinez
-
UK's new PM Starmer speaks to world leaders, names top team
-
Spain and France to face off in Euros last four, Turkey lament 'unfair' Demiral ban
-
Israel says negotiators to hold fresh Gaza truce talks next week
-
France beat Portugal on penalties to reach Euro 2024 semi-finals
-
Endrick to start for Brazil in Uruguay Copa clash: Dorival
-
Heartbreak for Germany fans after dramatic Euros exit
-
Beryl heads for Texas after causing damage, no deaths in Mexico
-
Nagelsmann laments late penalty decision as hosts Germany exit Euros
-
Biden declares he's all in ahead of high-risk TV interview
-
Spain team 'is a winning horse', says De la Fuente
-
Bows at the ready, Chad villagers battle kidnappings
-
Alcaraz mimics Bellingham goal celebration after Wimbledon win
-
Olmo hopes Pedri can make speedy return for Euros semi-finalists Spain
-
Retiring Kroos hopeful despite Germany's 'bitter' Euros exit
-
Southgate turns on English 'entitlement' over claims of easy Euros draw
-
Merino extra-time goal sends Spain past Germany to Euro semis
-
Koeman demands Dutch silence fervent Turkish fans at Euros
-
Brad Pitt at Silverstone for filming of F1 movie
-
Raducanu storms into Wimbledon last 16
-
California fires spread in July 4 weekend heatwave
-
Alcaraz wins five-set Wimbledon thriller as Gauff eases through
![Indian tycoon launches mass weddings to celebrate son's nuptials](https://www.portugalcolonial.pt/media/shared/articles/9a/e5/ac/Indian-tycoon-launches-mass-wedding-248979.jpg)
Indian tycoon launches mass weddings to celebrate son's nuptials
Asia's richest man, billionaire Indian tycoon Mukesh Ambani, launched Tuesday the start of the lavish finale of his son's wedding celebrations with mass nuptials for 52 "underprivileged" couples.
Pre-wedding parties for his son have already included multi-day galas, a European cruise for 1,200 guests, a specially-built Hindu temple, and entertainment provided by performers ranging from R&B star Rihanna to the Backstreet Boys.
Ambani, 67, is chairman of Reliance Industries -- India's biggest company by market capitalisation -- and took part with his family in Tuesday's Hindu ceremony with some 800 guests.
"Starting with this function, the family pledged to continue supporting hundreds more such weddings across the country," his company said in a statement.
Ambani's younger son Anant and fiancee Radhika Merchant, both 29, are set to marry in a three-day Hindu ceremony in India's financial capital Mumbai from July 12.
The billionaire father is no stranger to throwing a costly wedding.
Ambani held the most expensive wedding in India to date for his daughter in 2018, which reportedly cost $100 million and saw US singer Beyonce perform.
India is the fastest-growing major economy, but despite massive advances the world's most populous country has a jobs crisis to match.
National per capita income is just $1,174, according to government data.
Many couples face intense social pressure to throw a costly wedding, sometimes pushing them into crippling debt.
India was ranked 111 of 125 countries in the Global Hunger Index report last year, a peer-reviewed measure calculated by European aid agencies.
- 'Beginning of the festivities' -
Ambani, for his son, has already thrown two extraordinary parties ahead of the main celebrations later this month.
That included a three-day gala in February for 1,500-plus guests in Gujarat state.
At that party, Rihanna performed her first concert since last year's Superbowl to guests including Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, and ex-US president Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka.
A second leg in June was a four-day Mediterranean cruise, where singer Katy Perry performed at a masquerade ball at a French chateau in Cannes.
The Backstreet Boys, US rapper Pitbull and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli also provided entertainment.
At the wedding ceremony on Tuesday, at a Reliance office park in the city of Navi Mumbai, each couple was given gold and silver wedding jewellery, $1,200 in cash and groceries "sufficient for one year", the company said.
"Today marks the beginning of the festivities for our children Anant and Radhika's wedding," Nita Ambani, the billionaire's wife, told reporters at the wedding venue.
"As a mother, it fills me with happiness to witness the marriages here today... I pray to God for their happiness and well-being throughout their lives."
The company said the mass wedding highlighted the Ambani family's "commitment to social welfare and community support".
E.Raimundo--PC