Lavish Indian baraat shuts down Manhattan’s financial district
In a stunning display of love, culture, and sheer spectacle, Wall Street ground to a halt over the weekend, not for a stock market crash, but for a spectacular Indian wedding ‘baraat’ that turned the financial district into a full-blown dance floor.Hundreds gathered on Saturday outside the iconicCipriani Wall Street, dressed in shimmering sarees, sequinned lehengas, and golden finery, to witness the extravagant baraat, complete with a live DJ spinning Bollywood beats. “We shut down Wall Street for a 400-person baraat,” DJ AJ (@djmumbai) posted on Instagram alongside a viral video of the electrifying moment. “Who would’ve ever thought?!”Meet the couple who stopped traffic and dropped jawsThe glamorous newlyweds were identified asVarun Navani, CEO of enterprise AI company Rolai, andAmanda Soll, a director of legal compliance and risk management. The Boston-based power couple’s identities surfaced through a wave of social media tags and their wedding page on The Knot, which outlined a four-day celebration worthy of a movie montage.Though based in Boston, the pair chose to make their matrimonial mark on Manhattan and did so in blockbuster fashion.“Who are the bride and groom? Must be billionaires,” one stunned onlooker commented online.Permits, price tags, and a party for the agesCity records reviewed by The Post revealed the couple filed 28 permits to execute the grand affair, shelling out an estimated $25,000 to $66,000 per location to secure the financial district for their festivities. Depending on size and disruption, the city classifies street events like this as “large” or “extra-large,” requiring full-block closures, complex setup logistics, and NYPD coordination.For a few unforgettable hours, Wall Street wasn’t about stocks, suits, or spreadsheets, it was about dhol beats, dancing feet, and the ultimate fusion of Indian tradition and New York swagger.From boardrooms to baraatsIn a city where anything can happen, Varun and Amanda proved that even Wall Street can be made to dance, literally.As the music echoed between skyscrapers and guests swirled in sync, the celebration made one thing clear: this wasn’t just a wedding. It was a moment that stopped Manhattan in its tracks and brought a burst of colour and culture to the heart of global finance.From boardrooms to baraats, these newlyweds just gave Wall Street a wedding to remember. 