
Hundreds of fatherless brides have tied the knot in a mass ceremony in India funded by a diamond tycoon who has married off more than 3,000 women in the past eight years.

Mahesh 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 2010.

This year's ceremony saw 261 women, including six Muslim and three Christian couples, blessed by Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, reports DNA India.

Hundreds of fatherless brides tied the knot yesterday in a mass wedding ceremony in Surat, India, yesterday

Diamond tycoon Mahesh Savani (pictured centre) has been funding mass wedding ceremonies every year since 2010

In India, fathers are expected to pay for their daughters' weddings, which can mean that if a bride's father has died or is extremely poor, her chances of getting married are almost non-existent

But generous business Mahesh, who believes that giving away brides is a blessing from God, has been funding these weddings before giving household items to help the newlyweds start married life

This year's event saw 261 brides get married, including six Muslim and three Christian couples, blessed by Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani

Mahesh, alongside several Indian Administrative Service and Indian police officers, performed the Hindu wedding ritual of 'Kanyadaan' - the practice of giving away one's daughter in marriage.

This year, event organisers gave the newlyweds household items to start their new lives, and insurance worth 200,000 rupees (£2,300) each. In previous years, Mahesh gave gifts worth 500,000 rupees (£5,600).

Of yesterday's 261 brides, 118 had no brothers or sisters, and 54 were orphans.

He has said previously that he feels a 'social responsibility' to help the woman who can't afford their own weddings.

Pictured: A group of happy brides pose for a selfie ahead of the mass wedding ceremony in Surat in India yesterday

Mahesh has said previously that he feels a 'social responsibility' to help the woman who can't afford their own weddings

Indian weddings are incredibly expensive and traditionally take place over several days. Pictured: women show off their intricate henna ahead of the ceremony

Mahesh said he began his charitable campaign in 2008 after a distant relative died, which left him responsible for organising his daughter's weddings

Weddings in India are expensive affairs with the bride's family traditionally expected to pay the groom a large dowry of cash and gifts.

Fathers in India also traditionally pay for their daughters' weddings, which can mean that if a bride's father has died or is extremely poor, her chances of getting married are almost non-existent.

Mahesh said he began his charitable campaign in 2008 after a distant relative died, which left him responsible for organising his daughter's weddings.

So far, Mahesh has helped fund the weddings of 3,172 brides.

This year, event organisers gave the newlyweds household items to start their new lives, and insurance worth 200,000 rupees (£2,300) each

Pictured: A Hindu couple take part in a ritual during the mass wedding. Mahesh, alongside several Indian Administrative Service and Indian police officers, performed the Hindu wedding ritual of 'Kanyadaan'

The Hindu wedding ritual Kanyadaan is the practice of giving away one's daughter in marriage