Hair India

…while planning his wedding to the goddess Padmavathi, Vishnu accumulated a large debt with Kubera, the gods’ treasurer, who, in consideration of the high interest rate he had stipulated, decided that the loan could be paid off bythe hundreds of generations over the centuries to come. For hundreds of years, devotees have donated money or jewellery. Many will not hesitate to offer the only thing they own: every day 40,000 pilgrims donate their hair in a ritual of purification. Until a few years ago the hair donated to the temples was burned or used to stuff mattresses. Today this hair has become an extraordinary economic resource. Thousands of locks find their way to Italy, purchased by Mr. Gold, owner of “Great Lengths”, the world’s leading manufacturer of the extensions used to thicken and lengthen hair. “Great Lengths” hair extensions are considered the best on the world market. The company exports to the USA and Europe and many others including… India.