Recently, Bill Gates made headlines for wearing traditional Indian clothing at the pre-wedding festivities of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in Jamnagar. The co-founder of Microsoft posted a number of photos on Instagram to celebrate the three-day celebrations.
The couple was thanked for the invitation, which he took to his recent post, where reminisced about reconnecting with old friends. I’ve never attended a wedding celebration in India before, it was just amazing. Thank you Anant and Radhika. Gates expressed gratitude for the opportunity to spend time with old friends by captioning a photo of himself, Paula Hurd, and Rohini and Nandan Nilekani.
Gates’ Instagram post received over 130,000 likes in just a few hours, signifying the widespread interest in his participation in the high-profile event. In July this year, Radhika Merchant, daughter of industrialist Viren Merchant and businesswoman Shaila merchant, will wed Anant Ambani, youngest son of billionaire Mukesh Ambn and philanthropist Nita Ambani.
A multitude of guests from India and beyond were present at the lavish pre-wedding festivity. Among the attendees were business magnates, movie stars, sportspeople and even Rihanna herself. During the festivities, Gates was seen joining in with other guests and enjoying the company of Hurd.
Gates made a point of visiting India, including the Statue of Unity, during the wedding celebration. It seems that the philanthropist and tech mogul relished the cultural immersion and warm welcome when he was in the country. In 2022, Anant and Radhika started their ‘rokha’ with a traditional wedding ceremony, and soon after, in 2023, they are engaged. Their families, friends, and well-wishers are all eagerly anticipating their wedding in Mumbai this July.
By attending the pre-wedding festivities, Gates provided a dose of international allure and served as opportunistic at how Indian and foreign leaders are increasingly intertwined in different arenas. His warm welcome to the guests and their appreciation for Indian hospitality were both heartfelt and unforgettable, with many attending the festivities.
