Inside Messi’s Vantara visit: Prayers, conservation tour and a lion cub named after him

Argentine football great Lionel Messi paid a special visit to Vantara in Jamnagar on Tuesday, where he was warmly received by founder Anant Ambani in a ceremony rooted in Hindu traditions that emphasise reverence for nature and respect for all living beings.

Messi was accompanied by his teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, who also took part in the traditional welcome. The visit began with vibrant folk music, a shower of flowers symbolising blessings, and a ceremonial aarti, reflecting a grand and culturally rich reception.

The World Cup-winning captain participated in a ‘Maha Aarti’ at the temple and joined pujas dedicated to deities including Ambe, Ganesh, Hanuman and Shiva, offering prayers for world peace and unity. His presence underscored what organisers described as a close bond with Anant Ambani, shaped by a shared commitment to wildlife conservation.

Messi later toured Vantara’s expansive conservation facilities, where he interacted with big cats such as lions, leopards and tigers, observing them in enriched and naturalistic habitats. In a symbolic gesture, Anant Ambani and his wife Radhika Ambani named a lion cub ‘Lionel’ in his honour.

During the visit, Messi explored the multi-speciality wildlife hospital and fed several animals, including okapis, rhinos, giraffes and elephants. He spent time at the foster care centre for orphaned and vulnerable young animals, which was described as one of the most meaningful parts of the tour.

At the elephant care centre, Messi shared a light-hearted moment during an impromptu football enrichment activity with Maniklal, a rescued elephant calf, highlighting what observers called the universal language of play. The visit concluded with traditional rituals such as ‘Nariyal Utsarg’ and ‘Matka Phod’.

Praising the centre’s mission, Messi said, “What Vantara does is truly beautiful, the work for animals, the care they receive, the way they are rescued and looked after. It is genuinely impressive. We had a wonderful time, felt completely at ease throughout, and it is an experience that stays with you. We will surely visit again to continue inspiring and supporting this meaningful work.”