Indian barbers tell Malays to cash in on hair sacrificed during Hindu festival
By ANISaturday, January 22, 2011
KUALA LUMPUR - Several barbers from India have said that hair sacrificed by devotees during Thaipusam, a Hindu festival, is worth big bucks internationally.
The barbers were working at booths set up to shave devotees’ heads bald as a sacrifice to Lord Muruga during the festival at Batu Caves in Malaysia.
“Instead of throwing the hair away, local businessmen can make big bucks by selling it to international wig makers. In India, hair is worth between 200 dollars and 300 dollars per kilo,” the Star Online quoted A. Kartikayan, 28, who hails from Tamil Nadu, as saying.
“I would have become rich selling all this hair to the middlemen who collect shaved hair,” he added.
However, Kartikayan said that it was difficult to find such middlemen in the country.
“Back in my country, we don’t have to look for buyers as they find us and make good offers,” he said.
However, another local barber, N. Ganeson, 30, said that as the hair is a sacrifice to Lord Muruga, it should not be sold for profit. (ANI)
