A diamond magnate in India arranged a wedding for 250 poor couples at once, and it turned out luxuriously

On December 24, hundreds of orphaned girls in India tied the knot at the same time, and diamond magnate Mahesh Savani financed the celebration. The mass ceremony was attended by 502 people, that is, 251 couples. Savani performed the Hindu ceremony of kanyadan, when a father gives his daughter in marriage — not just for one bride, but for hundreds of girls in bright ethnic clothes and fancy jewelry. The businessman claims that he feels responsible for women who are unable to pay for the wedding themselves.

Source: Daily Mail

Among the newlyweds there were five Muslim and one Christian couple, and among the brides there were two women with HIV—positive status.

The celebration took place in the state of Gujarat, in the city of Surat — one of the Indian diamond cutting centers. Diamond seller Mahesh Sawani has been regularly arranging such mass weddings for brides who have lost their fathers since 2012. He believes that whoever gives a girl in marriage receives a divine blessing.

Mahesh Sawani blesses Christian bride Priyanka Gamit.

According to Savani, he started this charity campaign in 2008, when one of his employees died a few days before his daughter's wedding.

Getting married in India is an expensive pleasure: traditionally, the bride's family presents the groom with a large dowry in the form of money and gifts. In addition, the family needs a few days to arrange lavish receptions for hundreds of people — mostly relatives and neighbors of the young. Traditionally, the head of the bride's family pays for the wedding, that is, if the girl does not have a father or he is very poor, then her chances of getting married are almost zero.

The tycoon says he feels a social responsibility to help women who cannot afford a separate wedding.

In previous years, Savani gave the newlyweds gold and household items, including sofas and beds, to make it easier for them to start a family life. Each bride received gifts in the amount of 500 thousand rupees (approximately 452 thousand rubles). Probably, women will receive similar gifts this time.

This year, a real estate dealer Sanjay Movaliya (Sanjay Movaliya) helped the tycoon to hold a holiday. It is not known how much the ceremony cost the businessmen.

Brides are preparing for the ceremony.

The bride and groom perform a wedding ritual.

Another ritual.

A couple of Christian newlyweds on the background of fireworks and confetti.

Thousands of people came to see the wedding.