A businessman from Uttar Pradesh who grew up without a sister has found a unique way to fill that gap – by becoming a brother to 101 Hindu and Muslim women from poor families and getting them married with dignity.

Vinay Agarwal, who runs a snacks business, organised the mass wedding for underprivileged couples at Khirni Bagh in Shahjahanpur on Sunday.

The ceremony brought the two communities together; 93 Hindu couples were wed per Vedic rituals and eight Muslim couples solemnised their nikah before clerics. The day was celebrated with pomp and splendour.

Brides were decked up at local beauty parlours and the 101 couples were brought to the venue in 101 cars, while families celebrated together in a shared festive pandal.

Agarwal said the absence of a sister in his own life inspired him to help daughters from financially struggling families.

He said he started helping at weddings in 2018, often turning up uninvited to offer support.

On the advice of his mother Saroj Agarwal, he later made it more…