WHERE OPULENCE MEETS TRADITION

From the holy haldi and surreal sangeet, magical mehendi and wondrous wedding, to the resplendent reception, and all the after-parties that followed.

- SHRADDHA CHOWDHURY

Back in 2024, when the Ambanis wed their younger son Anant to Radhika Merchant, the world was left in awe at the sheer grandeur of the celebrations and the astonishing guest list, packed with both Indian and international heavyweights. Now, a year later, as reports of “the wedding of the year” emerged from Udaipur, it collectively evoked in us a similar sentiment of awe and bewilderment.

The union of Netra Mantena — daughter of Padmaja and Rama Raju Mantena, the Orlando-based billionaire and CEO of Ingenus Pharmaceuticals — and Vamsi Gadiraju — a Forbes 30 Under 30 Indian-American tech entrepreneur — was testament to how every year, Indian weddings continue to get bigger and better.

From their shy beginnings, after first crossing paths in New York during the US Open, to Vamsi popping the question in Cabo against a beautiful sunset, we come to the near week-long festivities in Udaipur, which left much of the luxury hotels in the city completely booked out.

THE FESTIVITIES BEGIN

Before heading to Udaipur, the family hosted an intimate mangala snanam in Hyderabad, which as wedding photographer Joseph Radhik has described—resembled a Raja Ravi Varma painting.