In a mass-wedding ceremony organised in the city, Surat-based businessman Mahesh Savani got as many as 261 girls, who were orphaned or did not have a guardian, married. Savani started the tradition in 2010 after he got took the responsibility of getting his nieces married when his brother passed away in 2008 right before their wedding.
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Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani graced the occasion and blessed the couples. Many gazetted officers, including IAS and IPS performed the ‘Kanyadaan’ of a few HIV+ brides. Many HR heads of corporates, as well as spiritual gurus, also performed the ‘Kanyadaan’ of many brides.
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As of now, he has got as many as 3,172 couples married in last eight years. Of the 261 girls who got married this year, 6 were Muslim brides and 3 were Christians.
The couples were also given Rs. 2 lakh insurance under Pradhan Mantri Bima Yojana along with various gifts to start a new home. The mass wedding is not just limited to Gujarati brides and girls from states such as Rajasthan and Karnataka were also part of the ceremony.