Gold earrings Target
Gold is Free at This Temple Street
GOLD IS FREE AT THIS TEMPLE STREET !
I recall seeing a movie some 30 years back titled “Mckanna’s gold”. According to this picture, gold was available in some rocks at an unknown place and all one had to do was to use an axe to cut off chunks of the yellow metal. It was a 24 carat material. All absolutely free.
Not far away from where I live, there is a temple and gold is available free here too. This temple is visited by thousands of worshippers on all Tuesdays and Fridays. Women out number men any day. And they come fully loaded with gold ornaments covering their neck, wrists, toes and ankles. The road leading to the Sanctum Sanctorum would be so full of human heads that one has to crawl to reach the spot rubbing shoulder with a person to your right and left. In such a situation, won’t the ornament-wearing women conveniently offer themselves as easy target to any ‘chain snatching thieves’?
‘Chain snatching’ is a highly developed art of stealing and a very common occurrence in and around Chennai, India. One could read at least one such incident in the daily newspapers. But this danger has not restrained our women-folk from coming to this place of worship decked with all their jewellery. While Mckanna’s gold is raw stuff, here you can get finished products in various designs and shapes and volumes. Are these religion minded women a generous lot to let some thieves grab their chains and trinkets and bangles just with a flick of their finger? I wanted to know why they wanted to swim in crocodile filled water, right from their mouth.
Turning into an investigative journalist, I embarked on this mission like a big reporter. My first target was an young college student. She sized me up and down as if to assess my credibility. Had I been an young man, she might have snubbed me outright. Agreeing to give an old man some of her time she said, “Well uncle, I have them. Why not use them? How else would the world know that I have a rich father?”
“Great! But my sweet child, don’t you know that robbers are on the prowl for ladies like you? This morning’s paper said that there have been 119 cases over the first four months of this year? Double or treble that number probably had occurred but not reported. Eh ?”
“Ah, cut it out, uncle. I am a karate expert and a Black belt holder, you know? Let a fellow come near me and I’ll teach him a lesson of his life.”
I wished the charming maiden good luck and turned to my next patron who was a married woman. Her face was glowing with happiness because she was about 6 months pregnant. She wore one huge necklace and a long chain which was resting comfortably on her upper abdomen. “True Sir. But, won’t my enemy No.l, living behind my house, think that I own no jewellery whatever? I can’t let down my dear husband in front of that wretch, can I ?”
I had no ready rejoinder for that. This is a kind of gold war competition among the female genders here. Many women seem to practice the theory, ‘Exhibit all your possession lest …” Gold indeed is a prestige symbol.
The next lady’s defense argument stole the thunder. “You see, I visit this Hindu temple twice a week. How can I bow before my glorious Deity with just my wedlock chain? Won’t he get angry? After all, it was god who has given these and I must display my ornaments before him always, don’t you think? My god will take care of those pickpockets.”
“Sad case,” I dubbed and switched over to the next client. This lady, besides 4 thick chains and half a dozen gold bangles on each wrist, was also sporting two UFO shaped circular ear drops. I thought any smart poacher could easily flick off an ear drop with the flash of his finger. “Why, aren’t you offering yourself an easy victim in a large crowd?” I pointed out to her.
“Perhaps ‘yes’,” she responded agreeably. “But our culture is that South Indian women should not be seen outside their home without jewellery unless she is a widow. And, I am not a widow !? she lectured and smiled mischievously..
But the next one, knocked me down flat. She was accompanied by her middle aged husband. On hearing my inquiry the Man remarked, “Yes, tell her brother. Tell her forcefully brother. She never listens to me and for her own safety she brings me here on every visit. I am her security guard, so to say.”
The no-nonsense type wife faced me squarely and shouted, “Look here, old
chap. It’s none of your business. Get lost. OK?”
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By
Israel. Jayakaran
e-mail: Israel@jayakaran.com
About the Author
do you know the best thing for people who are allergic to cheap earrings?
I always needed to wear real gold on my ears. Sometimes I would go to Target, or other stores and fell in love with some earrings that weren’t real.All I do is put clear finger nail polish on the part that goes in my ear and maybe a little around the edge of the post. Let it dry. The clear nail polish protects your ear from itching or getting infected.
I also have metal allergies. I do this for cuff watches only. The best earrings to use are the ones that actually say they are for sensitive ears or have no nickel. Nickel is the alloy that usually cause the itching and is used commonly in the processing of metal jewelry. I also am able to wear Sterling Silver with no problem. Target and Claire’s both sell the abovementioned types. Good luck.
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