To find the Ambani wedding distasteful

[Soonenough]

I know everyone can do what they like , it's their money . But such an extravagant event in a place where a large proportion of the population live in slum conditions is rather unsettling.? Plus the bride is stunning but the groom unfortunately does not come across as an individual with a lot

of intelligence . Before I get flamed , he and his family are encouraging the public to view them and I guess are expecting admiration.

Not sure what you’re trying to say here?? The comparison is that they spent their own money but people are freaking out yet there wasn’t a complaint about the royal wedding when they used our tax money. There is a huge difference. Of course there is no obligation to invite anyone but they are a powerful family why wouldn’t they invite them? I have no idea what you are mad about?
this whole post and comments stinks of jealousy, and to be honest a bit of racism. Comments about looks and arranged marriages. I was quite shocked to read this all.

I'm asian and my own wedding ran on for a week
I'm not surprised that they had more events and they can afford too. Unlike UK Royal weddings where they use taxpayer money to pay for security the Ambanis paid for everything themselves. If they want to give their son a lavish wedding then fair enough. The money isn't coming from my pocket.

The Ambani family do a heck of a lot for charity in their country and the money comes from their own pockets. With the royal family, they publicise charities but how much does William donate from the duchy or Charles? It isn't up to the Ambani's to solve the poverty or inequality in India, that's a huge issue but one for their government. This post does stink of racism because when white people have a huge wedding its classy and tasteful but for brown folk it's trashy. People have the right to choose to spend their money however they like.

What I thought was distasteful was inviting or paying for celebrities to be there. I do not understand why you would lavish money on people that are rich in their own right. Instead that money could have been given to the poor or used to set up a charitable legacy in the newlyweds name.

@ThisDaringGoldHedgehog

It seems you've missed the main issue at hand. The criticism surrounding the Ambani wedding isn't about jealousy or racism; it's about the glaring disparity between the ostentatious display of wealth by a single family and the crushing poverty experienced by millions of Indians.

While the Ambanis spent their own money, the sheer scale of their extravagance—hundreds of millions of piunds - is grotesque in a nation where a significant portion of the population struggles to meet basic needs.

The Ambanis' wealth stands in stark contrast to the daily hardships faced by ordinary Indians.

Comparing this to the British royal wedding funded by taxpayer money is a diversion. Yes, there was criticism of the royal wedding's public funding, but that doesn't excuse or negate the obscenity of spending such vast amounts of money in a country plagued by such extreme economic inequality.

Furthermore, your attempt to dismiss these concerns as jealousy or racism is misguided. Critiques of the Ambani wedding are rooted in genuine frustration over the societal implications of such wealth concentration and the insensitivity it demonstrates towards the less fortunate.

Instead of deflecting with accusations of jealousy or racism, consider the broader picture: the Ambani wedding is a stark reminder of India's vast economic disparities. It's not about who was or wasn't invited; it's about the moral and social responsibility of the ultra-rich in a nation where millions still live in poverty.

It’s fairly obvious what I am trying to say - I’ve already said the same thing in several ways. There is a difference between someone spending £15k on a wedding and someone spending £150million, and this is not just a quantitative difference. The whole point is that it is a display not just of wealth, but of power. So - whose power? The Royal Family, whether everyone likes it or not, represent the UK - the King is the Head of State. Money spent on Royal weddings deliberately says something about the UK on the world stage. So, if comparing the Ambani wedding to a Royal wedding, then what are people trying to say? That it’s nobody’s business what a family chooses to spend on a wedding; that they are representing India, like a Royal family; that this level of power in totally private hands, with no responsibilities or obligations, is somehow neutral and harmless, or even positive?

@Walkaround

You raise an important distinction about the symbolism behind such lavish spending. The Royal Family, whether we agree with it or not, represents the UK and its traditions. Their weddings, funded partially by taxpayers (private money is used) are national events that carry national significance and are intended to reflect the country's heritage on the world stage. Therefore the expenditure is balanced by the goodwill/income/tourism generated.

In contrast, the Ambani wedding is a display of private wealth and power in a country where millions live in poverty. This is not just about how much was spent, but what it represents. The Ambani family doesn't have the same public role or responsibilities as a royal family. Their spending is a statement of personal power and influence without the same level of accountability or public benefit.

The criticism is not about jealousy or racism, but about the stark economic inequality it highlights. In a nation with significant poverty, such ostentatious displays of wealth can be seen as insensitive and tone-deaf. It raises questions about the social responsibilities of the ultra-wealthy and the impact of such disparities on society.

So, the issue is not whether it's "nobody's business" how they spend their money, but what this level of extravagance says about social and economic priorities in a country where many lack basic necessities.

The Royal Family, whether we agree with it or not, represents the UK and its traditions. Their weddings, funded partially by taxpayers (private money is used) are national events that carry national significance and are intended to reflect the country's heritage on the world stage.

The Ambani's are also present India and it's traditions. India doesn't have a Royal Family as such but also share their wealth though their own charity work and actually give their own money unlike the Royals who turn up to cut a ribbon. The Ambani wedding also reflected the country's heritage on the world stage hence world leaders and entertainment were invited.

So, the issue is not whether it's "nobody's business" how they spend their money, but what this level of extravagance says about social and economic priorities in a country where many lack basic necessities.

Their are people in the UK who also lack basic necessities yet the crown jewels came out yesterday just for the Opening of Parliament and the Kings Speech in the name tradition. Jewels which may I add were stolen from India.

I agree that there is a starker contrast between the rich and poor in India than in the UK however how the Ambani's choose to use their wealth is up to them. It's better for the country's economy that they used it rather than having it stashed away. It would be even better if they had built a hospital instead but maybe they can do both given how rich they are.

The issue is the fact that people like them and many others have been allowed to amass vast wealth at the expense of others, not the fact that they are spending it. This extravagant wedding at least put some of that wealth back into the economy (OK, also the pockets of people like Boris Johnson). Better than having it squirrelled away in a bank account in the Cayman Islands sucking money out of the economy in interest.

That's just a really long way of saying "they are brown so it's different".
I don't see why these particular rich people are somehow more responsible for inequality than any other. They are wealthy whether they show off or not. Are poor Indians going to be any less poor if a rich person doesn't spend their money?
Global inequality and the megarich are a problem. But these particular rich are not more of a problem than our royal family.
And, ahem, accountability for the royal family where? Scandal after scandal after scandal on our £.

You didn’t say you were better than them. If I was accusing you of having said it, I would have quoted you. It’s the attitude of moral superiority. There are dozens of posts on this thread talking about how terrible they are for flaunting their wealth and for spending so much money on a wedding when they could be using it to help people in poverty. Yet the mn demographic suggests that plenty of you are home owners, you drive nice cars, you live a particular lifestyle. How many of you are sharing your wealth? You can talk about the difference between billionaires and those in poverty, and how there’s a much smaller gap between you and poverty. And of course there is. But I repeat; they could help thousands but don’t. You could help one, but don’t.

Although given the fact I have less power and wealth, I am utterly incapable of doing either as much harm, or as much good, as people with that much power and wealth, however hard I try Yes, hence my comment that it’s all relative. You and all the other posters who have criticised them for not using that money to help thousands of people probably don’t have billions in the bank. But it costs a couple of hundred quid to get married. So why the need to spend thousands when that money could have been donated to charity to help one person? Why the need to buy a house in the right area when you can buy an ex council house with the same number of bedrooms on an estate for thousands cheaper and donate that extra money to help one single person out of poverty?

Do you not believe the saying that, with great power comes great responsibility? Or do you think a King, Prime Minister, or business magnate have no more responsibilities than anyone else? In which case, why should they have more influence than anyone else? Yes, I absolutely believe that a king or Prime Minister has responsibilities. They are managing a country and are responsible for its people. A business magnate? Not so much. They’ve just been more successful in their business than the one man band down the road. They’ve worked for their money in the same way that a professional athlete or musician etc, has worked for theirs and they have no more responsibility to share their wealth than Wayne Rooney does, or anyone on this thread does. It would be lovely if they did, but I don’t believe there is an obligation for them, or you, to do so.

Let's expand on that logic shall we? Are you clothed sacks, live in a shack and eat nothing but gruel and scraps from restaurant floors? Think of how many people you could help if you didn't ever have or do a single nice thing?

🙄 utterly tedious.

No, obviously not. Although, for what it’s worth, I haven’t got much.

The point I’m making is not that people should be buying a cheaper house or nipping in to a registry office in their lunch hour. It’s your money and if you want to spend 15k on one day, then you carry on. But you are being a massive hypocrite if you’re then criticising that family because their idea of a nice thing is paying a couple of Kardashians to attend. Your sugared almonds is their Kardashians. Essentially pointless but you like them, you think they improve your day and that’s what you’ve chosen to spend your cash on.

Agree! Tacky and bizarre! Kardashians absolutely belong there but some others I am quiet surprised 😳

I thought the flagrant display of obscene riches was tasteless and yes, obscene. Had I been a famous person, no amount of bribery / payment would have got me to support such an event.

@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.

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.

I would bat an eye if such an extravaganza was on display anywhere, especially where nearly half the population lives in dire poverty - not just the relative poverty of the UK. Acquit me of racism and the politics of envy, also. It is just so OTT and tasteless.

So you haven't even bothered to read the comment you quoted.

How much did you comment on the Gates Wedding? Brooklyn Beckhams wedding? Any other rich-white-person wedding?

You can lie to yourself all you want, but you comment just confirms your racism, or at the very, very, very least and being very generous and forgiving... unconscious bias.

This. It’s not about the wedding, it’s about what the astronomical cost of it says about the enormous level of inequality that exists. Particularly in India, whether people like to hear that or not.

Why "particularly in India"?
Do other rich people get a free pass because they're a bit further away from abject poverty? Hoarding wealth is fine as long as you can't actually see the poor people?

“Particularly in India” because the richest can afford to spend hundreds of millions on a party, while the poorest have to exist with degrees of deprivation that are not common elsewhere. As per the hundreds of posts on this thread that you don’t seem to have read.

Soooo....same as literally any other country in the world (bar Antarctica)

That doesn't actually answer why "particularly India". As you've just pointed out, we all know that there are poor people.
It is overt racism to hold brown and black people to higher standards than white.

How many times have you seen people with visible, visibly untreated disabilities and deformities begging in the streets of European countries? Small children fending for themselves on the streets? Entire families searching for food in rubbish dumps? I’ve never seen any of those things in Europe, despite having lived in the UK for nearly 50 years and having travelled extensively elsewhere. I saw all of them in two weeks in India.

But why are these particular wealthy people more responsible? You think Elon Musk doesn't know? King Charles has never heard of abject poverty? They're all as bad as each other and all equally as responsible. India is far from the only place with people living in abject poverty.

*If you carefully stroll through the streets of Vienna, you will notice that many beggars have physical disabilities. The authorities in Austria are not aware of any forced mutilation by a ‘begging mafia’. Many physically disabled people end up elsewhere due to the inadequate social policies in Eastern European countries. In Romania, for example, there are no appropriate disability facilities or adequate medical and financial support for Roma. Bulgaria is another Eastern European country in which the situation for the physically and mentally disabled is insufficient. People who are physically

Or mentally unable to work will hardly have enough to survive – despite the care allowance they are provided with by the State. For many, begging is the only way to provide for themselves and their families.*

Link: www.hopeforthefuture.at/en/begging-in-austria/

I mean, the human trafficking of disabled adults and children for begging in capital cities all over Europe is pretty well known about.