Wedding Planning
– Dec 1, 2025
ANANT EPCC – Event Planners Confluence & Culfest has evolved into a dynamic meeting ground for tourism boards, global hotel brands, and India’s leading event planners. This year’s edition at The Leela Gandhinagar reaffirmed its core spirit: let’s collaborate and celebrate together, not as a theme, but as the energy driving every exchange.
As Gujarat glowed with Navratri, over 150 delegates gathered for two days of sharp dialogue, spontaneous networking, and forward-thinking ideas. The confluence opened with an impactful keynote by Vedant Patel, Director at Prasang Events and Anant EPCC. His address, “From Chaos to Corporatisation,” distilled decades of industry learnings into a call for structure, professionalism, and long-term vision—setting a purposeful tone for the sessions ahead.
Following the keynote, Malaysia Tourism—this year’s principal sponsor—shared compelling insights through its session ‘Malaysia Unfolded’. The presentation showcased how Malaysia has rapidly emerged as a go-to destination for large-scale social celebrations, corporate events, and luxury weddings. With its diverse landscapes, seamless connectivity, and robust hospitality infrastructure, the country reaffirmed its commitment to delivering elevated experiences to the Indian events market.
The welcome brunch set an easy, conversational rhythm, with global flavours curated by The Leela. Conversations flowed naturally as introductions turned into insights, and insights into collaborative possibilities. The destination hotels showcased at the confluence added tremendous value, reinforcing the evolving landscape of international celebrations. The Peninsula Hotels represented timeless global luxury, while Arq by The Leela highlighted India’s rising appetite for refined hospitality. Alila Jabal Akhdar brought the charm of Oman’s dramatic mountains, Rayavadee Krabi exemplified Thailand’s tropical appeal, and Hilton Salwa Beach Resort showcased Qatar’s world-class beachfront experiences. Collectively, these properties positioned themselves as premier choices for milestone destination celebrations.
A series of well-curated panels anchored the afternoon, each bringing clarity and perspective to an evolving industry. The conversation on the Royal Revival of Jaipur & Rebranding of Indian Cities, moderated by Parthip Thyagarajan, Founder of WeddingSutra, traced Jaipur’s ascent as a global wedding capital. Rajiv Kapoor, Pritesh Sharma, Prasoon Pandey, and Saurabh Walwani discussed how heritage, hospitality, and storytelling together set the foundation for cities like Ahmedabad, Kochi, and Vizag to re-imagine their own identities.
Equally insightful were other panel discussions that shaped the discourse at this year’s confluence. These included ‘Industry Priorities, Challenges & The Next Leg of Growth’, ‘Gujarat’s Rise as India’s Epicenter of Events & Experiences’, and ‘The Middle East Advantage’. Each session brought meaningful perspectives, emphasising the importance of structured growth, cross-border collaboration, and the need for the industry to reimagine how celebrations can become more impactful and experience-driven.
As evening descended, The Anant Experience Garba—the world’s first Floral Garba—lit up the night with rhythm, artistry, and emotion. Over 3,500 people came together under a sky filled with colour and movement, transforming cultural celebration into an immersive spectacle.
Day two sharpened the spotlight on Gujarat’s growing stature as India’s hub for large-scale events. Vikas Sood, General Manager, The Leela Gandhinagar, shared how the hotel and Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre are reshaping the region’s MICE ecosystem. A high-energy panel explored the state’s rapid momentum built on policy foresight, infrastructure, and vision. The unveiling of Arq by The Leela, introduced by Prasoon Pandey, became a key highlight, symbolising India’s rising appetite for elevated hospitality experiences.
The confluence concluded with an evocative visit to Dandi Kutir, India’s largest museum, grounding the gathering in history and narrative. It was a fitting reminder that even as the events industry advances with global ambition, its true power continues to stem from heritage, emotion, and human connection.
Event Partners
Venue: The Leela, Gandhinagar
Presented By: Tourism Malaysia
Powered By: The Leela, Gandhinagar
Experiential Celebration Partner: Rayavadee Resort, Krabi; Alila Jabal Akhdar, Oman; The Peninsula Hotels; Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas, Qatar
Knowledge Partner: WeddingSutra
Media Partner: EventFaqs Media
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on Monday, December 1st, 2025 at 1:32:32 pm and is filed under Wedding Planning.
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