Diamond tycoon funds wedding for 251 young couples in India

Sunday saw more than 250 couples tying the knot as part of a mass wedding hosted by an Indian diamond trader.

The mass wedding in Surat featured included five Muslim couples, a Christian couple and two women who are HIV positive.

It was hosted by Indian diamond trader Mahesh Savani in Gujarat. Savani, who believes that giving away brides is a blessing from God, has been funding and organising mass weddings for fatherless women in Surat every year since 2012.

The trader performs the Hindu wedding ritual of 'Kanyadaan' - the practice of giving away one's daughter in marriage.

In previous years, Savani has given gifts of gold and household items, including sofas and beds, worth 500,000 rupees to each of the brides to help them start married life. Women this year too will receive similar gifts.

According to Savani he feels it is his 'social responsibility' to help women who can't afford their own weddings.

Speaking to the Indian Expressm Savani said that he takes their responsibility as their father. He also added that real estate developer Sanjay Movaliya too had helped him this year.

Savani said he began his charitable campaign in 2008 when one of his own employees died just days before his daughter's wedding. It is not known how much the giant ceremony cost.