Nita Ambani, Founder-Chairperson of Reliance Foundation, hosted a special celebration at the Swadesh flagship store at Eros in honour of Indian artists and artisans for an evening dedicated to traditional craftsmanship in Mumbai. The evening at Swadesh was a tribute to the country’s timeless artistry, narrated through craft, culture, and heirloom elegance.
Nita Ambani honours Indian artisans at Swadesh
Addressing the media, Nita Ambani honoured the National Award-winning artisans and called them the “pride of India and the stars of tonight.” The artists who were honoured by Nita Ambani include Biren Basak, Padma Shri Awardee (2021), renowned for Tangail and Jamdani weaves; V. Panneerselvam, Tanjore painter honoured with the Shilp Guru Award (2019) and National Award (2011); Shammi Bannu Sharma, seventh-generation miniature painter and National President Awardee (2014); GhanShyam Sarode, celebrated Paithani textile designer and handloom revivalist, and Gunjan Jain, Odisha Ikat textile artist and National Award winner (2024).
Nita Ambani stuns in Banarasi saree at Swadesh
For the event, Nita Ambani wore a peacock-blue Banarasi saree from Swadesh, woven with the historic Kadhua technique, an age-old method known for its durability and intricate detailing. The saree also featured the delicate Meena motifs, crafted with precision, showcasing the exceptional skill of Banaras’ weaving community.
She complemented her saree with a blouse designed by Manish Malhotra, adorned with a delicate polki border. It stood out for its thoughtful touches, including hand-painted deity buttons and a vintage spinel tassel sourced from Nita Ambani’s personal collection.
Nita Ambani dazzles in century-old Kundan Polki earrings
Nita Ambani’s jewellery paid homage to India’s regal aesthetic and personal lineage. She accessorised her outfit with antique Kundan polki earrings over a century old, a handcrafted jadau bird ring from Swadesh, and a cherished haath phool passed down from her mother, a symbol of family heritage.
The Swadsh Online store shared Nita Ambani’s look from the event on their Instagram handle on Friday. Through her attire and presence, Nita Ambani highlighted the importance of celebrating India’s artisans.
Deepika, Ranveer, B-town stars attend celebrations
Apart from the artists, several noted Bollywood celebrities and industrialists also attended the event in their stunning outfits. The Bollywood couple Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone attended the celebration on the day of the Dhurandhar’s release. Akash Ambani, the Chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited, arrived with his wife Shloka Mehta at the Swadesh celebration to honour the Indian artists and artisians. Khushi Kapoor and Janhvi Kapoor also attended the Swadesh celebration. While Janhvi opted for a strapless dress, Khushi chose formal wear, including a blazer.
Karisma Kapoor wore a simple white saree with a yellow border. The actress paired her saree with a full sleeves white blouse. Raveena Tandon also arrived at the event in a black saree accessorised with a red necklace. Bollywood actor Riteish Deshmukh, along with his wife Genelia Deshmukh, attended the event. Genelia dazzled in a red saree while Riteish looked handsome in a black sherwani. Several other celebrities attended the event, including Madhuri Dixit, Yuvraj Singh, Hazel Keech, Aditi Rao Hydari and others.
Artful installations at Swadesh event
Another highlight of the celebration was the installation of the handmade toys, figurines, textiles, woodwork and sculptures from across the country, honouring India’s craft traditions. Swadesh shared a photo of the woodwork and sculptures on their Instagram handle on Thursday. “Crafted entirely from handmade toys, figurines, textiles, woodwork, and sculptures from across the country, this installation celebrates the living heritage of our artisans. Standing before it, Nita Ambani reflects Swadesh’s vision, to honour India’s craft traditions in their purest form and reimagine festive storytelling through the hands that keep them alive.”
(With ANI Inputs)
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