During the extravagant ceremony, over 260 women, including Muslims and Christians, were wed to their fiances.
In India, tradition requires fathers of the bride to cover all costs of the wedding, which are extremely expensive. Therefore, if a girl's father dies prematurely, or if her dad is poor, she will struggle to enter wedlock.
Brides pose for a group photo before taking their wedding vows during a mass marriage ceremony, organized by a diamond merchant, in which 261 including six Muslim and three Christian couples took their wedding vows, in Surat, Gujarat, India, December 23, 2018.
In this photo taken on December 23, 2018 an Indian Hindu bride speaks on her mobile phone before her participation in a mass wedding in Surat, some 270km from Ahmedabad. 261 women without fathers were married to partners in a mass wedding organised by the charitable PP Savani & Movaliya Groups. The majority were married in Hindu ceremonies, while 3 Christian and 6 Muslims women were included.
In this photo taken on December 23, 2018 Indian Christian and Hindu brides arrive to participate in a mass wedding in Surat, some 270km from Ahmedabad. - 261 women without fathers were married to partners in a mass wedding organised by the charitable PP Savani & Movaliya Groups. The majority were married in Hindu ceremonies, while 3 Christian and 6 Muslims women were included.
In this photo taken on December 23, 2018 Indian Muslim brides pose for a photograph before their participation in a mass wedding in Surat, some 270km from Ahmedabad. 261 women without fathers were married to partners in a mass wedding organised by the charitable PP Savani & Movaliya Groups. The majority were married in Hindu ceremonies, while 3 Christian and 6 Muslims women were included.
Brides and grooms take their wedding vows in decorated podiums during a mass marriage ceremony, organized by a diamond merchant, in which 261 including six Muslim and three Christian couples took their wedding vows, in Surat, Gujarat, India, December 23, 2018.
A bride yawns as she and others wait to take their wedding vows during a mass marriage ceremony, organized by a diamond merchant, in which 261 including six Muslim and three Christian couples took their wedding vows, in Surat, Gujarat, India, December 23, 2018.
A bride waits to take her wedding vow during a mass marriage ceremony, organized by a diamond merchant, in which 261 including six Muslim and three Christian couples took their wedding vows, in Surat, Gujarat, India, December 23, 2018.
In this photo taken on December 23, 2018 Indian brides pose for a selfie photograph before their participation in a mass wedding in Surat, some 270km from Ahmedabad. 261 women without fathers were married to partners in a mass wedding organised by the charitable PP Savani & Movaliya Groups. The majority were married in Hindu ceremonies, while 3 Christian and 6 Muslims women were included.
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© AP Photo / Ajit Solanki
Indian brides and grooms pose for group photograph during a mass wedding in Surat, India, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018. Two hundred and sixty one young couples, including six Muslim and three Christian couples tied the knot at the mass wedding hosted by Indian businessman Mahesh Savani, who has been funding the weddings of fatherless girls in the city of Surat for several years. Weddings in India are expensive affairs with the bride's family traditionally expected to pay the groom a large dowry of cash and gifts.
In this photo taken on December 23, 2018 an Indian Hindu couple participates in a mass wedding in Surat, some 270km from Ahmedabad. 261 women without fathers were married to partners in a mass wedding organised by the charitable PP Savani & Movaliya Groups. The majority were married in Hindu ceremonies, while 3 Christian and 6 Muslims women were included.
In this photo taken on December 23, 2018 an Indian Hindu couple take part in a ritual during a mass wedding in Surat, some 270km from Ahmedabad. 261 women without fathers were married to partners in a mass wedding organised by the charitable PP Savani & Movaliya Groups. The majority were married in Hindu ceremonies, while 3 Christian and 6 Muslims women were included.
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© AP Photo / Ajit Solanki
An Indian bride and groom walk together during a mass wedding in Surat, India, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018. Two hundred and sixty one young couples, including six Muslim and three Christian couples tied the knot at the mass wedding hosted by Indian businessman Mahesh Savani, who has been funding the weddings of fatherless girls in the city of Surat for several years. Weddings in India are expensive affairs with the bride's family traditionally expected to pay the groom a large dowry of cash and gifts.
