It is meant to be the ultimate in lavish celebrity weddings, involving members of India’s super-rich who are estimated to be worth 20 per cent of the country’s entire gross domestic product and costing €10 million.
In a spectacular ceremony attended by 800 guests, Ritika Agarwal, youngest daughter of a UK-based metals magnate, and Rohan Mehta, son of a fashion mogul, will exchange their vows at Fasano in the Puglia countryside, in Italy.
Guests at Wednesday’s ceremony will be greeted by 70 local girls dressed in saris and more than 1,000 people will be employed to ensure that everything — including dancing and music expected to rival a Bollywood epic — goes without a hitch.
Fasano’s mayor had hoped that it would be the most important event ever to happen for the local economy but it looks set to be overshadowed by a diplomatic spat between India and Italy over the fate of two Italian marines in an Indian prison.
Salvatore Girone and Massimiliano Latorre have been awaiting trial since 2012 on accusations that they shot dead two Kerala fishermen they allegedly mistook for pirates while working on an Italian oil tanker.
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The men come from Brindisi, less than 40 miles from Fasano, and their supporters have seized on the wedding to highlight what they say is the injustice of their incarceration.
Military veterans have called on the mayor to boycott the event and urged any Italians who plan to attend to wear a yellow ribbon calling for the marines’ return, in an echo of the campaign in the United States for the release of hostages held at the embassy in Tehran.
A Facebook page entitled “No Fasano administrators at the Indian wedding” has attracted hundreds of supporters. “We cannot tolerate the sight of Fasano genuflecting before the plutocrats of a nation that holds two of our citizens hostage in defiance of international law,” the organisers said.
Campaigners say they will display banners calling for their release throughout Puglia, though they have vowed not to disrupt the wedding.
However the mayor, Pasquale Di Bari, is standing firm despite the growing pressure, hoping that the town of 40,000 people will enjoy an economic benefit from the occasion.
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“These are Indian industrialists, many of whom don’t even live in India, who have decided to come here, bringing Indian culture and a lot of euros,” Mr Di Bari said. “If 80 out of the 800 guests decide to pay a repeat visit, it will be a great result for Fasano.”
Fasano is earning itself a reputation as a wedding destination of the rich and famous — Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel were recently married there.