Billionaire heir Anant Ambani and fiancée Radhika Merchant don stunning traditional clothing as they attend lavish pre-wedding ritual - ahead of their big day next week

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Anant Ambani, the son of Asia's richest man, and his fiancée Radhika Merchant, the daughter of a billionaire, attended a traditional pre-wedding ritual on Wednesday.

Due to marry on July 12 after several months of lavish pre-wedding celebrations, Anant and Radhika, both 29, beamed throughout the 'Mameru ceremony' - which according to the Hindustan Times sees the bride's maternal uncle give her wedding gifts.

The event, which is traditional in the Gujarati community, is understood to have taken place at Antilia, the 27-storey Mumbai residence of Anant's parents, Mukesh and Nita Ambani, which is located on the city's billionaires row.

Mukesh Ambani, 67, is the chairman of the conglomerate Reliance Industries Limited, and Nita Ambani, 60, founded and leads the Reliance Foundation, one of the largest non-profits in India. 

Childhood sweethearts Anant and Radhika were both dressed in orange, a colour which holds special importance in Hindu culture, signifying warmth, energy and auspiciousness. 

Nita Ambani (left), mother of Anant (back, centre) greets guests while Radhika (front, centre) looks on

Radhika, who read political science at New York University and has worked as a business consultant, wore a custom-made lehenga by top Indian designer and couturier Manish Malhotra, which she accessorised with gold jewellery. 

Her husband-to-be, meanwhile, wore a beaded nehru jacket with a kurta underneath. 

The couple got engaged on 29 December 2022 and will marry at the end of next week. Beginning on July 12, the wedding celebrations will take place at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai over three days.

The couple's pre-wedding celebrations began in March with a glamorous party in Jamnagar, India, that was estimated to have cost them more than $128 million. 

In May and June, the festivities continued as the couple embarked on a four-day Mediterranean cruise with 1,200 guests. Amongst them were global tech CEOs, Bollywood stars and Hollywood legends. 

The trip included parties across Europe with performances from stars such as Katy Perry, Pitbull and the Backstreet Boys.

Over the course of the four-day expedition, the soon-to-be husband and wife, along with their guests, experienced the European cities of Sicily and Rome in Italy and Cannes in France.

The nighttime entertainment featured lavish parties and star-studded celebrity performances. 

Anant Ambani, 29 - pictured at the event - wore an orange beaded nehru jacket with a kurta underneath

Nita Ambani, 60, greets guests during the traditional wedding ritual ahead of her son and Radhika's nuptials next weel 

The Ambani family's Antilia residence on Mumbai's billionaire's row was decorated with floral arrangements and lights 

A band played at the event, which comes after several months of lavish pre-wedding celebrations 

Anant and Radhika (centre) both wore orange, which holds special significance in Hindu culture 

'It was a retreat for the people that have contributed to our life in different ways,' Radhika told Vogue. 

The magazine reported that the couple had decided to organise the cruise because 'many of their close friends' were 'unable to make it to' the first party.

Struggling to find a venue that could accommodate such a large group, they opted for a cruise ship. 

The holiday began in Palermo, Sicily, on May 29, where guests enjoyed a welcome lunch before boarding the cruise ship. 

The vessel they chose is called Celebrity Ascent and is said to have cost $900 million to build.

The enormous ship boasts 32 restaurants, bars, and lounges, as well as a rooftop garden, a casino, spa, multiple pools, and a theatre.

On the first night, the couple hosted a 'starry-night-themed formal party,' according to Vogue.

For the dazzling soiree, Radhika opted for a custom black and white Robert Wun gown that had a love letter from Anant sewn into the skirt.

Anant's father, Mukesh Ambani (left), 67, the billionaire chairman of Reliance Industries Limited, is pictured with industrialist Ajay Piramal (right) and their respective grandchildren 

Mukesh is pictured with his daughter, Isha Ambani (left) and his granddaughter at the event on Wednesday

Mukesh Ambani (centre) poses with his son-in-law, Anand Piramal and son Akash Ambani (right), 32

'He wrote me this long letter for my [22nd] birthday about what I mean to him,' Radhika recalled.

'I wanted [to save] it for posterity - I want to be able to show it to my kids and grandkids, and say that "this is what our love was."'

The Backstreet Boys also took to the stage to perform for the guests.

The next day, the group arrived in Rome where the guests explored the city before returning to the cruise for a second bash - a toga party on the ship's deck.

Radhika donned another custom outfit, this time created by Grace Ling.

It contained 'an aerospace aluminum breastplate, made to mimic drapery, that the designer 3D-carved, sculpted, and then 3D-printed,' Vogue reported.

French DJ David Guetta entertained the crowd throughout the night.

The third day was spent in Cannes where couple hosted a masquerade ball at the famous Château de la Croix des Gardes, the palace which featured in Alfred Hitchcock's film To Catch a Thief.

Radhika donned a custom Versace dress with a diamond-encrusted chest piece and a long flowing blue skirt, which reportedly took a year to make. 

She paired the gown with a stunning blue opal necklace that sat on a diamond chain, which was made by Lorraine Schwartz.

Katy Perry sang during the final party and, as she belted out her hit Firework, an flawless firework display lit up the Cannes sky. 

Back on the boat, the festivities continued with an afterparty hosted by Pitbull.

The trip ended in Portofino where the event organisers turned the main square into an 'open-air market complete with food stalls.'