Prayagraj: The spiritual fervour generated by Hanuman Ansh, a film depicting the journey of revered Neeb Karori Baba, appears to be influencing devotees and gift buyers alike, with demand for Hanuman Chalisa and Sunderkand editions embossed on silver foil witnessing a sharp rise.With the festive season of Dussehra and Diwali approaching, these silver-clad religious texts are increasingly being sought for corporate gifting, housewarming ceremonies, weddings and other auspicious occasions.Jewellers in Uttar Pradesh say the demand has risen manifold, prompting them to place orders with suppliers in Jaipur and other cities.President of the Allahabad Jewellers’ Association, Dinesh Singh, told TOI that interest in silver-foil religious texts has grown significantly even as footfall for conventional gold and silver jewellery remains subdued.“We have sourced silver-foil Hanuman Chalisa and Sunderkand editions from Jaipur for sale,” Singh said.According to him, the silver-foil Hanuman Chalisa and Sunderkand, weighing around six grams and nine grams respectively, have become particularly popular among devotees. He added that engraved pure-silver Hanuman Chalisa editions have also registered a substantial rise in demand across cities such as Lucknow and Kanpur.Traditionally used for decorating deities, silver foil is now increasingly finding a place in personal altars, especially ahead of Diwali. Pure-silver, laser-etched pocket editions of the Hanuman Chalisa have emerged as a popular trend in spiritual gifting. Many devotees consider silver an auspicious metal believed to promote positive energy, ward off negativity and enhance inner strength.Singh further said the recently concluded Janmashtami festival also witnessed brisk sales of silver idols of Lord Krishna and Lord Hanuman. Besides religious texts, customers are showing increased interest in purchasing silver idols and other devotional artefacts ahead of the festive season.
