Gold is unaffordable so South Asian brides turn to one gram substitutes

What Happened

Record gold prices across South Asia have made traditional wedding jewellery unaffordable for brides. Young women in Kashmir and the region now purchase one-gram gold pieces instead of full ornaments. Gold, culturally linked to dignity and protection from dowry harassment, costs three months' salary for single rings. India's gold consumption remains world's second-largest despite affordability crisis.

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