Instagram users have slammed Kim Kardashian for wearing red not once, but twice, during Indian billionaire heir Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s over-the-top three-day wedding in Mumbai last weekend.
Fans pointed out that the colour is typically reserved for Indian brides.
The 43-year-old American reality star showed off two different scarlet looks at the festivities, wearing a racy red lehenga during last Friday’s ceremony and another bold red look with a long veil on Sunday.
Kim donned the bride’s colour of red – a blunder no different to a guest wearing white at a Western wedding – and sported a nose ring, called a nath, also traditionally reserved for the bride, reported the Daily Mail.
The Kardashians star kicked off her time in India with sister Khloe, 40, by rocking a sparkling two-piece outfit covered in intricate beadwork, pairing her tasselled bra top with a matching skirt and beaded red dupatta.
With a US$600 million ($805 million) budget, a guest list to rival the Met Gala and a host of former world leaders dancing the night away, the Ambani wedding was arguably the biggest in the world.
It was no surprise that Kim was on the VIP list, joining the likes of Boris Johnson, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas to celebrate the union of Anant and Radhika, both 29.
In Hindu traditions, red is reserved for the bride, meaning guests should avoid the colour for fear of upsetting or overshadowing the bride.
Brides wear red as a sign of good luck for the future, prosperity and to ward off evil spirits.
To be fair, Kim was not the only one, with the likes of Ms Cherie Blair, wife of the former United Kingdom prime minister Tony Blair, also among those donning red to the wedding celebrations.
Kim’s lehenga top might also be considered unsuitable. While the tops do vary, and often embrace modernity, many choose to dress modestly when attending a Hindu ceremony.
For Saturday’s wedding celebrations, the Skims founder switched things up with a stunning pale pink and silver lehenga paired with a sheer long-sleeved choli and a matching dupatta.
And on Sunday, the mom of four rocked another red look, wearing a Gaurav Gupta creation featuring a wrapped red fabric top and matching skirt along with a striking red veil.
Posting to Instagram on Sunday, Kim shared a carousel of images with the caption: “India has my love”. Dripping in diamonds, she looked nothing short of dazzling.
She was dripping in hundreds of carats of Lorraine Schwartz jewels at each event, including diamonds, emeralds and a show-stopping piece that featured a massive 70-carat diamond chain stretching from her ear to a nose ring.
“Not supposed to wear red to a wedding in India. That’s saved for the bride,” one fan commented on her post, while another added: “Isn’t wearing red at a Hindu/Indian wedding equivalent to wearing white to a civil/Christian wedding?”
“I’m Mexican and even I know you’re NOT supposed to wear Red to an Indian wedding,” a third Instagram user commented.
However, it seems the Ambanis didn’t mind; Kim was spotted sharing warm interactions with the bride and groom along with his mother and sister.
Ambani and Merchant tied the knot in a grand celebration that spoke volumes of their deep-rooted connection, having transformed their childhood friendship into a loving partnership over the years.
After their public debut as a couple in 2018 – following graduations from Brown (Anant) and New York Universities (Radhika) – their relationship has been one that’s been the admiration of many.
The main wedding ceremony began on July 12 and brought together a handful of high-profile guests, including famous celebrities, politicians and influential business people such as Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates.
