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.
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.
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.