India's foremost business family, the Ambanis, commenced the new year with a spiritual pilgrimage. Industrialist Mukesh Ambani, his wife Nita Ambani, and their youngest son Anant Ambani were seen offering prayers at the revered Somnath Temple in Gujarat's Gir Somnath district on Thursday, January 2, 2026.
A Sacred Start to 2026
The visit was a private affair focused on devotion and seeking divine blessings for the year ahead. The family arrived at the temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Lord Shiva, and participated in traditional rituals. Photographs from the visit show the Ambanis dressed in simple, elegant traditional Indian attire, with Nita Ambani in a cream-colored saree and the men in kurta pyjamas, reflecting a sense of humility and reverence at the holy site.
The timing of the visit, just two days into the new year, underscores the importance the family places on spiritual grounding. It is a well-documented fact that the Ambanis often visit temples and spiritual centers during significant personal and professional milestones. This visit to Somnath, a symbol of resilience and faith having been rebuilt several times after destruction, carries a profound meaning.
Focus on Anant Ambani's Upcoming Wedding
While the visit was a New Year's pilgrimage, it also comes at a crucial time for the family, particularly for Anant Ambani. The young scion is set to marry his long-time fiancée, Radhika Merchant, in a much-anticipated wedding ceremony later in the year. The couple got engaged in a traditional 'Roka' ceremony in January 2023.
It is widely speculated that the family sought blessings for Anant's marital life and the upcoming grand wedding festivities. Such pre-wedding temple visits are a common and cherished tradition in Indian culture, symbolizing the invocation of divine grace for a happy and prosperous new beginning.
The Somnath Temple trust officials confirmed the family's darshan and their participation in the religious ceremonies. The visit proceeded smoothly, with the family spending considerable time inside the temple complex, absorbing the serene atmosphere and offering their prayers.
A Pattern of Faith and Tradition
The Ambani family's public expressions of faith are not new. They are frequently photographed at major temples across India, from the Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai to the Tirupati Balaji Temple in Andhra Pradesh. These visits often draw significant public and media attention, highlighting the blend of immense material success and deep-rooted cultural spirituality that characterizes many Indian families.
This particular pilgrimage to Somnath reinforces several key aspects of the family's public persona:
- Commitment to Tradition: Despite their global stature, they remain firmly connected to Indian cultural and religious roots.
- Family Unity: The visit, undertaken together, projects a strong image of family bonding and shared values.
- Significance of Milestones: Major life events, like a wedding, are preceded by seeking blessings, a practice relatable to millions of Indians.
The photographs from the visit have since gone viral on social media and news platforms, with many netizens commenting on the family's simple dress code and devout demeanor. The Somnath Temple, located on the western coast of Gujarat, is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Hinduism, making the Ambanis' choice of destination particularly noteworthy for the commencement of 2026.
