Shopping for Dhanteras in Kochi

The North Indian pre-Diwali custom of shopping for silver and gold for prosperity, Dhanteras, brings city folk into a common mission and has city jewellers stocking up the works

November 06, 2015 04:33 pm | Updated 07:57 pm IST - Kochi

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, 04/05/2010:Silverware collection at Bhima in the city.

Photo:S.Gopakumar

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, 04/05/2010:Silverware collection at Bhima in the city. Photo:S.Gopakumar

Cultural assimilation best describes how Kerala has made Dhanteras its own. Dhanteras , what? Would have been the response one would have got say five years ago in the city if one mentioned the word. But today this prosperity generating, North Indian silver-shopping ritual and belief that falls two days prior to Diwali, the festival of lights, has gained commercial consciousness and how, driven by the market. It’s once again time to shop and propitiate the Goddess of wealth. The day has become auspicious for Malayalis, much like Akshaya Tritiya, to shop for gold or silver. Exposure and interaction with the North Indian community facilitated belief in the custom. Jewellery comprises a major chunk of the shopping, although traditionally silver is preferred among the North Indians.

So popular has the ritual become that most jewellery stores in the city have begun stocking inventory to go with the custom. Bharat Shah of Aabhushan- The Silver Shop, on MG Road, and one of the North Indian Jewellers in the business for the last 20 years in the city reasons the growing trend. He says, “This change has come because the city is turning cosmopolitan. Everybody wants prosperity and everybody happily accepts the good things from each other’s communities.” So for the auspicious day, which falls on November 9, Bharat has stocked specially made 999 purity silver utensils besides having the regular coins, idols and pooja items. Traditionally he says that buying silver or any white metal was the done thing in the past but now buying jewellery has become popular. “The purchases made on Dhanteras are always for oneself or one’s home and are never to be gifted , ” he says. His clientele is not only the city’s North Indian community but also the local Malayalis and Muslims, he says stressing the fact that prosperity is desired by all.

Bharath Eswar Patil of Pooja Jewellers, one of the oldest silver stores in the city says that the Dhanteras trend has gained popularity since the last decade. According to him the good luck silver coins are the most popular item. The younger generation he finds are shopping for silver jewellery and hence he stocks a wide variety of ornaments from

all over the country and even abroad.

Diamond jewellery sees movement during this time says, G. Suresh, manager, diamond division, Joy Alukkas. “With the large number of North Indians here, boundaries have blurred and so it is when it comes to festivals. Rather than shop for typically gold jewellery, we have customers buying diamond jewellery. We see a huge rush of customers during this time.” The store opens, on that day, at 8 a.m. and sees early shoppers making a beeline to the shop. Uncut diamond jewellery, which is more ‘yellow’ as opposed to ‘white’ diamond jewellery also see many takers, he adds. The store has rolled out new collections of diamond jewellery for Dhanteras – a line of light weight pendants, set in contemporary designs, designed to look three times heavier than their actual weight and diamond and uncut diamond necklaces and jewellery.

Catering to the rush of shoppers Bhima Silver Palace has introduced a line of special antique silver jewellery. Renjith Natesan from the group says, Dhanteras holds special significance for the business community due to the customary purchases of precious metals on this day. It is auspicious to purchase gold or silver articles or at least one or two new utensils. Lord Kubera, the God of assets and wealth is also worshipped on this day.”

Deepak Vanjani, Secretary, North Indian Association Trust at Udaynagar says that a one-day stall that will retail silver coins and other silver items will be put up for the occasion.

With silver prices being 20 pert cent down from last year, Bharat Shah is upbeat about a buoyant sale this year. “Economy is bad but since silver rates are down, one can expect good sales,” he says.

Kalpana Menon, a North Indian married to a Malayali says that she is unsure about the mythological story behind the ritual but follows the practice more as tradition. The bought item – coin or jewellery or utensil – is placed with items along with the Diwali puja, she says adding that there is an auspicious time when this purchase must be made.

Vineesh Joshi, a priest believes that Dhanteras is an auspicious day and the muhurutham is good day long. And yet knowing the fervour to buy and bring good luck and prosperity to one’s home is so strong that stores across are set to open their doors as early as possible on the day, some as early as 8 and shutting as late as 11p.m.

( Inputs from K. Pradeep, Priyadershini S., Shilpa Nair Anand, Sooraj Rajmohan )

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