Dubai: Indian expatriate Ganesan Mani was planning to buy a surprise gift for his wife — a diamond or gold jewellery — on Akshaya Tritiya for her birthday on Sunday, but the surprise gift came from Gulf News ahead of her big day.
Mani was just one of the 100 lucky Gulf News subscribers who won in the Gulf News Subscription Campaign.
Each winner received a Dh1,000 Diamond Jewellery Voucher from Joy Alukkas in the presence of K.C. Nissar, Personnel and Administration Manager at Gulf News. They are the third batch of raffle winners drawn by a Dubai Economy representative this month.
“It’s my wife’s birthday on the 22nd. I wanted to give her a surprise gift but Gulf News surprised us with this winning. We’ve planned on buying her jewellery today and with this voucher, it’s a good opportunity,” Ganesan, a senior accountant, told Gulf News.
Gayathri, Ganesan’s wife, said the voucher came at a perfect time, the Akshaya Tritiya, a festival celebrated by Indian communities around the world. It is believed that investing in jewellery, getting married or buying property brings luck on this day.
“I’m very very happy. Today is an auspicious day to buy gold and diamond as per the Indian culture. So we planned something and it happened today, surprisingly from Gulf News,” she said.
Sunita Wagh, an India teacher, who has been a Gulf News subscriber for more than two decades, couldn’t agree more.
“In our religion, in our custom, today is a big day to buy diamond and gold. So I’m gonna be going from here using the voucher to buy diamond. It’s a day in India when people believe it’s an auspicious day to buy precious metals. Now, I’ll use the voucher to buy some more and pick up a gift for myself,” the mother of two said.
“When you win in any lucky draw, it makes you happy. It’s a good feeling. And I’m into diamonds so that’s why I am very happy because it’s a diamond voucher,” she added.
Thomas Antony, a subscriber for the last four years who renewed his subscription this year, said the decision proved to be a good one.
“Last year, I missed out on subscribing and this year I called to subscribe again and then I got the call that I’m a lucky winner. My son was saying, ‘Papa this time we didn’t fill out any voucher and then you won!’”
All three said winning in the draw is one of the added perks of being a Gulf News subscriber. The best part is getting the newspaper daily which has become part of their morning routine.
“Gulf News gives us value for money. I’m not a social media person. I prefer reading the newspaper. It relaxes you more and gives you good information and Gulf News covers it really nicely,” Wagh said.
Final draw on May 17
A total of 500 lucky Gulf News subscribers have the chance to win the diamond vouchers. Residents still have until May 12 to subscribe or renew their subscription to have a chance to be included in the final draw on May 17 where 200 lucky subscribers will be picked for the remaining 200 vouchers.
The winner of the top prize stands a chance to drive home a brand new sports car, BMW 520i M.
