Hundreds of people in Jaipur were astonished on Saturday when they witnessed a newlywed youth from the Dalit community bring his bride home in a chopper!

As Surinder Sawariya, who is in his early twenties, landed near his house in Rundal village with his bride, it was quite a draw for a large number of people.

Neighbours had been waiting for hours to watch Sawariya's special way of bringing his wife home, the first time any Dalit had done something like this in Rajasthan.

As the couple landed, people cheered the newlywed couple. The cheering doubled the joy of Suresh Sawariya, the groom’s father, who was accompanying the couple in the helicopter.

"It feels nice that I came like this in the chopper and there is a crowd of people to receive us," he said. "It is a prestigious feeling."

Neelam, the bride, had no words to express her feelings at receiving such a fabulous gift on getting married.

People in the neighbourhood were proud to watch the incident, as it was being performed as part of the marriage ceremony of a youth from the downtrodden community for the first time.

"I am happy that a son of a downtrodden man has managed such a thing," said local resident Acharya. "I am very happy for him. We are proud that people like us are progressing."

Though individuals hiring choppers for weddings is not a new thing in India, the incident held significance as it happened for the first time in a Dalit family in Rajasthan.

Observers here say chopper weddings are now becoming a status symbol and a way of organising ostentatious marriages.

"It's the latest trend catching up with the socially backward people who wish to attempt something like this," said captain Vibhuti Singh, the wedding planner. "They see it as a way to make a statement about one’s wealth and authority."

The special ride cost the family a cool Rs2,60,000!