Ramswaroop Munde, a textile businessman in Surat, gave each of his 20 employees a cash bonus of more than Rs 1 lakh for Diwali. A video of the distribution has gone viral on social media, showing bundles of fresh currency notes arranged on ceremonial thalis.
Most Diwali bonuses mean a little extra money in the bank, a box of sweets or a festive hamper. For the employees of Munde's textile firm, this Diwali was different. Each of them received cash worth more than Rs 1 lakh, presented in a way that turned the bonus itself into a celebration.
Munde runs Mahadev Cloth Centre in Sudama Chowk, Varachha, according to reports. The video shows him distributing the cash to his employees, with the bundles laid out on decorated ceremonial thalis instead of being handed over in envelopes or transferred to bank accounts.
The notes were arranged in neat bundles in denominations from Rs 10 to Rs 500, according to reports. The thalis were silver coloured and decorated, and the presentation made the moment feel ceremonial rather than routine.
A personal touch
The bonus came with a personal touch that viewers noticed. Each employee received the cash gift from their own wife, who presented the thali, according to reports. Several workers were left emotional by the gesture, and the video shows employees breaking down as they receive the money.
The bonus was intended to help the employees meet their festive expenses and celebrate Diwali with their families without worrying about household costs, according to reports. That practical purpose, a festival without money worries, is part of why the video struck a chord.
Munde originally hails from Rajasthan, according to the caption on the viral post. The post, shared by an X user on 7 November, described the gesture as true generosity and said the businessman had gifted Rs 1 lakh cash to each of his employees along with special gifts.
The number in the viral post
The viral post that spread the video claimed the bonus went to 50 employees. News reports of the same video put the number at 20 employees, each receiving more than Rs 1 lakh. This pack follows the reported figure of 20 employees, since that is the number given in the news reports of the distribution.
The difference matters because the video itself does not show a count of the staff. The figure of 20 comes from reports that identified the firm and the employees, while the figure of 50 comes from the caption on the viral social media post.
Why the video travelled
The video spread because it showed something most workplaces do not do. A bonus of more than Rs 1 lakh in cash, laid out on thalis and presented by family members, is far beyond the usual festive gift. Viewers shared it as an example of an employer sharing the festival with the people who work for him.
Other employers also marked Diwali generously this year. In Jaipur, Ankush Kumar of Shree Mobile Store gifted his employees Apple iPhone 17 devices along with cash, according to reports. The Surat video stood out among them because of the sheer amount of cash on display and the ceremonial way it was given.
The video has now travelled well beyond Surat. It has been shared across social media platforms and picked up by news outlets, turning a local Diwali gesture into one of the most shared festive stories of the season.
