A diamond dealer in Gujarat’s Surat will give away 1,260 cars and 400 flats to mark the festival of Diwali, AFP reported. Hare Krishna Exports owner Savjibhai Dholakia said the gifts were in recognition of the performance and commitment of the company’s employees.

“Our aim is that each employee must have his own home and car in the next five years,” he said. The company will also gift its employees jewellery, he added. The company, Hare Krishna Exports, which has been making similar donations to its employees since 2012, will also distribute around $7 million (approximately Rs 46.78 crore) to some of its 5,500-strong workforce through a loyalty programme.

Diwali bonuses given out by companies to their employees are often seen as an indicator of India's economy. The festival period also sees an increase in the buying of gold as well as other precious metals and stones. Gold and silver prices fell on Thursday, a day before Dhanteras, costing Rs 30,700 per 10 g in the Capital.