To find the Ambani wedding distasteful

@Walkaround

Your quote is

People living in the city have complained that road closures have worsened traffic problems caused by monsoon flooding, while others have questioned the ostentatious display of wealth.”

How does this say the wedding caused the monsoon flooding?

@Gingerdancedbackwards Because those other examples are not flooding social media . The majority of people in Mumbai are living in property. Wouldn't matter what country this display was in. I just find the whole concept distasteful.

I agree with the distaste. These are private people, no matter how wealthy. So different to any of the Royal or celebrity weddings which seem relatively quite cheap in comparison.

The news reports say
The wedding happened
Monsoon flooding happened

Please share a link to the one saying they are related.

Monsoon is particularly heavy here at the moment. Not much until July 8th but since then it has been very heavy. The flooding is related to the amount of rain not the wedding

I read a stat somewhere that basically said it was the world’s cheapest wedding in that it only cost 0.05% of their wealth.

I started this thread and it has evolved into very distinct categories. Unfortunately the poor will always be with us in every civilization . Individually we can only do so much but to try to be aware and compassionate . The vulgar display of wealth and all the participants like Boris and performers who took the money should be ashamed . There is no comparison to an extravagant wedding in any culture .Others have had extravagant events but didnt open it to social media or pay so called celebrities to attend . It was a display of obscene wealth juxtaposed next to some of the most poverty stricken in the world , specifically in Mumbai . Are the Ambani displaying this to share their joy in the marriage? My arse. Vulgar, tone deaf display in order to portray their power and position .

@marcopront - you can access all the news reports for yourself.

UK:

Poverty has increased, close to pre-pandemic levels

More than 1 in 5 people in the UK (22%) were in poverty in 2021/22 – 14.4 million people.23 Jan 2024

India:

According to research by the State Bank of India, released in February 2024, the poverty rate in the country fell to 4.5-5 percent in 2022-23.

The Ambanis donated £66 mil in 2020 as well as funding the initial COVID response.

Now, please do tell me how this thread is not a racist rant from most of you, and how if this family were a rich white family of similar standing, you would be posting the same comments. If Bill Gates spent this amount on his children's wedding, no one would bat an eye.

*"Pictures of the marriage of Bill and Melinda Gates’ eldest daughter, Jennifer, and her equestrian sweetheart, Nayel Nassar, emerged this week and they paint a picture of a lavish farm wedding set amongst the autumn leaves.

Reports this week suggest the pair’s 300 guests were treated to two ceremonies, a lavish brunch and a performance from Coldplay - as long as they’d had the vaccine and tested negative for Covid.

According to the bride herself, the star-studded three-day event felt like an “otherworldly fairyale”, with decadent white floral decorations, hanging yellow lights and a roster of celebrity wedding planners behind the venue, food and drink."*

Do you not think a 3 day "white wedding" (unlike a traditional Indian wedding) is absurd? Or hiring a famous band? Multiple outfits?

No. It's just when brown people do it that it's a problem.

Why does proximity to poverty make it any worse?
Do you suppose the Indian poor would feel better knowing that billionaires had a slightly smaller wedding? I don't suppose it makes any difference to them at all whether there's a massive wedding in Mumbai or in Westminster. Either would have had the capacity to change the lives if millions had they wished.
In reality it just makes you feel better to demand that these particular rich people behave better than others.
We don't pick apart the expenses of any other billionaires. What's different about this family?

Read with interest.

Why are you arguing that it doesn't matter out of interest?

I mean, I come from a country where people are very poor, but I would never argue that criticism of the wealth inequality is somehow racist. I'd be first on lime to criticise. Yes in Britain there is inequality, but no, it isn't as awful in real terms as that I have seen back home. And that's just fact. I don't see kids walking barefoot because the only one pair of shoes they have are for school and events for e.g.

It's weird to be defensive about people criticising pretty stark inequality just because it's your country and no, not all poverty is the same. I'm broke, I have a ton of bills I can't pay, virtually no savings (god knows what would happen if the fridge or Washing machine broke down) but I have roof over my head (precariously true, but it's there) easily accessible clean running water, clean sanitary amenities, and if I really need it, access to a food bank.

That isn't the same poverty level as someone who doesn't even have that. These are the basics on the Maslow hierarchy. To give a great ostentatious display of wealth when the inequality is that stark is disgusting. End of. Who cares where it is? And why compare as if to say, well it doesn't matter, don't criticise because you have inequality toooooo

What difference does it make if the wealth is on display? If anything I'd say it's better than the faux humility thing some of them pull. And people do fall for it, clearly. Falling over themselves to justify why this is worse because for no reason other than it's in India.

@Kinshipug Yes we do comment on , pick apart other billionaires when they display vulgar wealth . Elon Musk is hardly admired is he ? If you choose to put your wealthy lifestyle in the public domain then you have to be prepared to take the criticism and opinions of that public .
What makes this family different is that they chose to flagrantly display this wealth and invited the world's media access to it all. And made a point of highlighting the cost .

Why does proximity to poverty make it any worse?
Do you suppose the Indian poor would feel better knowing that billionaires had a slightly smaller wedding? I don't suppose it makes any difference to them at all whether there's a massive wedding in Mumbai or in Westminster. Either would have had the capacity to change the lives if millions had they wished.
In reality it just makes you feel better to demand that these particular rich people behave better than others.
We don't pick apart the expenses of any other billionaires. What's different about this family?

It would be just as tone-deaf if it was taking place in many South American countries. The poverty of the favelas is just as great as that of the shanty towns of Mumbai.