It's a whole million! A Maharashtra mariner?has hit a jackpot by winning $1 million in a lucky draw contest in Dubai.?
Ganesh Shinde, based in Maharashtra's Thane, bought the jackpot ticket from the Dubai Duty-Free Millennium Millionaire and Finest Surprise draw website on June 16. Shinde, who is a seaman for a Brazilian company, had bought the coveted ticket when he was travelling back to Dubai.??
On his arrival, he was left stunned as he found out that he had won the jackpot. ¡°It is unbelievable. I am still in shock,¡± he told Gulf News.?
"This is such a great opportunity. I'm very happy and thankful to the Dubai Duty-Free. I love Dubai city. I hope to visit soon," he added.?
Shinde?has been buying?lottery?tickets for the past two years without any luck. But this time, his stars aligned perfectly.
He?said he had a list of dreams. ¡°I want a new car, a new apartment, save money for my child¡¯s education. So the list is long. The prize money will serve these purposes," he told the newspaper.?
The?Millennium Millionaire lucky draw started in 1999 and Shinde has become the?181st Indian national to win $1 million at the contest.?
Earlier in June, a?Kerala man?named?Ranjit Somaranjan, who?works as a driver in Dubai, won a whopping 20 million dirham (Rs 40 crore)? in a raffle draw.?
However, the winning amount was to be split between 10 people, Somarajan and his nine other friends.?The group of 10 had brought the tickets together, so the whole amount was to be divided among all those who contributed.?