Social media posts show large-scale private gatherings held at the Reliance Corporate Park near Mumbai this week, which included dozens of food stalls serving Indian street food, dance performances and jam sessions blending devotional music with contemporary rhythms.
After Ambani’s $3.2 billion Jio Platforms IPO, India’s largest ever, attracted record bids, its shares surged 21% on Wednesday, valuing the telecoms-to-digital company at $131.5 billion.
In Mumbai, the party began before the stock market listing.
The events are a display of the grandeur that billionaire Ambani likes to bring to events like a public listing, which other companies in India often mark with more modest and private corporate gatherings.
The last Ambani family wedding in 2024 saw lavish ceremonies for his youngest son, which became a talking point at home and abroad for their opulence. Bollywood stars, politicians and Silicon Valley executives including Mark Zuckerberg attended months-long celebrations.
|
Chaat filling served in bowls at Kashi Chaat Bhandaar Restaurant in Varanasi, India. Photo courtesy of Fast Food Corner’s Facebook page |
Indian food has gained international recognition.
The cuisine ranked 13th in a list of 100 best in the world last year by international food magazine TasteAtlas, surpassing Southeast Asian food hubs such as Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia.
Last year, Mumbai in India has surpassed many food hubs such as Chiang Mai, Osaka and Bangkok to be named Asia’s 4th best street food city, according to British magazine Time Out.
Some must-try dishes in Mumbai were pav bhaji (spicy mashed vegetables in a roll), bhelpuri (a tangy rice dish), and fresh dosa.
Vada pav, fried potato dumpling inside a bread roll lined with chutney, is also recommended, particularly at Mumbai Ladu Samrat.