India urges its wealthy temples to bolster the economy with gold
by Rama Lakshmi for the Washington Post from on (#7YBK)
Government plans to use riches donated by religious devotees to protect nation's foreign exchange reserves
Workers for the centuries-old Shree Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai spent hours unpacking gold coins, heavy wedding necklaces and lustrous pendants from a closely guarded "strong room". By the time gold-buyers began mingling with worshippers at the sweltering sanctuary last month, the jewellery auctioneers were ready.
"This is not a regular gold coin that you would buy from a gold shop - it contains the Lord's blessing," a temple board member said, holding up a tiny coin, probably left by a devotee years ago. It eventually sold for four times its face value.
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