The most anticipated wedding, even in the times of starry unions, drew the common man to the hallowed streets of Altamount Road in Mumbai to witness the most opulent celebration. Passers-by, and even out-of-towners gathered to catch a glimpse of Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal's nuptials.
And they were not disappointed.
The Ambani family residence, the towering Antilia, was converted into a garden of perpetual spring with a 'fort' facade to for the wedding of Nita and Mukesh Ambani's only daughter.
"The decorations started two weeks ago," says Kiran Kochar, a resident of Shree Kunj building on Altamount Road, "and the fortress theme gave the proceedings a regal aura. Today, the floral decorations are built up the drama and you can tell that something big is happening."
A 100-metre floral corridor lead to the famous residence – garlands of flowers were strung from trees, diyas hung low and the lower floors of the building were bedecked in roses.
The bride's brothers – Anant and Akash – rode out on what looked like Australasian gypsy horses to fetch the groom. "It is good that they have kept traditions alive," said one bystander.
Soon, the baraat arrived preluded by a band from Jaipur and Balinese dancers. Among the entourage were three pooches, riding proudly in a vintage car, said to belong to Anant.
A wave of excitement raced through the crowd as the groom arrived. "His face is covered!" cried a dejected onlooker as others whipped out cellphones to capture the moment. The groom was welcomed at a separate entrance, and soon a stream of famous and successful guests flowed into the homestead, welcomed by members of the Ambani family, including the bride's uncle Anil.
Security – both private and that represented by the city's police force – beefed up its muscle in the presence of former president Pranab Mukherjee, former civil aviation minister Praful Patel, acgtor Amitabh Bachchan and his family, Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao Khan, superstar Rajinikanth and his wife Latha, newlyweds Priyanka and Nick Jonas, former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton, master blaster Sachin Tendulkar and his family, and industrialists Sajjan Jindal and Anand Mahindra, among others.
Kochar was one of the lucky few to get a prime seat to the spectacle by getting into a building opposite Antilia. Members of the media haggled with a number of neighbours to get a bird's eye view.
"They seem to have invited many foreign guests and special bands," says Shikha Verma who was in the neighbourhood with her sister and decided to watch the bonanza.
