M A I N   N E W S

A fat Indian wedding & some fat billionaires

Jodhpur, March 9
After partying for three days and nights, India-born businessman Arun Nayar today tied the knot for the second time with British model Liz Hurley according to traditional Hindu customs at the plush Umaid Bhavan Palace here.

The couple walked around the sacred fire seven times at the museum courtyard amidst the chanting of vedic hymns.

The function, originally planned at the Baradari, a structure with 12 poles, was shifted to the palace-turned-hotel's courtyard at the last moment at the suggestion of the religious authorities.

"The wedding started right at 7.15 pm and the rituals were completed within an hour," said a source at the palace, where the celebrity couple is staying.

Earlier, Nayar arrived at the hotel at the head of a symbolic marriage procession, wearing an off-white Jodhpuri suit and sitting on a black mare. More than 10 horses and a couple of decorated camels were part of the procession.

All the 'baratis' wore traditional Rajasthani dresses with saffron turbans. Hurley wore an off-white 'lehanga-chuni' and gold ornaments. — PTI

What do Lakshmi Mittal, the Ambani brothers and Azim Premji have in common? They are all part of Forbes magazine's elite club of billionaires, a record 946 in all. With 36 billionaires, India has surpassed Japan as the country in Asia with the most billionaires. Japan had held the position for two decades. India's billionaires are worth a total $191 billion while Japan's 24 billionaires are worth $64 billion, the magazine said.

Russia contributed 53 billionaires and now challenges Germany as home to the most billionaires outside the United States. "This is the richest year ever in human history," said Forbes Chief Executive Steve Forbes.

"Never in history has there been such a notable advance." London-based Mittal, who owns the world's largest steel firm Arcelor Mittal, came in at No. 5 on the list. He was followed by the Ambani brothers who, despite dividing their fortune following a rift in 2005, have managed to become even richer. Mukesh Ambani ranked 14th with a $20.1 billion fortune, while his brother Anil came in four places behind at No. 18 with $18.2 billion.

India now has three billionaires in the upper echelons, second only to the U.S.

Microsoft Corp chairman Bill Gates was the richest man for the 13th straight year, with $56 billion, followed by his friend Warren brothers who, despite dividing their fortune following a rift in 2005, have managed to become even richer. Mukesh Ambani ranked 14th with a $20.1 billion fortune, while his brother Anil came in four places behind at No. 18 with $18.2 billion. India now has three billionaires in the upper echelons, second only to the U.S.

Microsoft Corp chairman Bill Gates was the richest man for the 13th straight year, with $56 billion, followed by his friend Warren Buffett, chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway Inc, with $52 billion. Mexican telecom tycoon Carlos Slim remained No. 3, with $49 billion.

“Strong equity markets combined with rising real estate values and commodity prices pushed up fortunes from Mumbai to Madrid,” Forbes magazine said. Of the 178 newcomers on the list, 14 were Indians.

“Ingenuity, not industry, is the common characteristic; these folks made money in everything from media and real estate to coffee, dumplings and ethanol,” Forbes said, adding, two-thirds of last year’s billionaires are richer.

This year’s billionaires are younger and of the list members’ fortunes, 60 per cent made theirs from scratch. There was bad news for 44 former billionaires who dropped off the list.