How India’s wedding season is turning the country into one of the world’s biggest consumers of the precious metal.

India is the second largest consumer of gold in the world (after China.) Citizens of India purchase from 700 to 800 tons of precious metal annually. The demand for gold in India is particularly high during the wedding season, since giving the gift of gold to the bride is an ancient cultural tradition of this country.

Women’s capital in India

Indian women increase their personal gold capital on the day of the wedding. In rich families, the bride receives several kilograms of gold jewelry from her relatives and friends. These jewels belong to the wife only, becoming the insurance of financial well-being. In difficult times, it is the last thing to go.

Indian wedding dress

Many Indian women still get married wearing gold sarees. The red-colored fabric is sewed with golden threads. On average, up to 300 grams of the precious metal are used per one dress. The making of such dress takes three to four months.

A large and heavy bridal necklace called haar is supposed to be worn around the future wife’s neck. It is inherited from mother to daughter. Also, nath and tikka considered to be important attributes of the wedding dress. The nose ring and hair ornament allowed to be worn by a married woman only.

The peak of the golden wedding season

In the run-up to the wedding season, the price of the precious metal traditionally rises, which directly affects gold prices in India. One of the key factors in this growth is the Akshaya Tritiya day, which occupies a special place in Indian wedding traditions. On this day, families actively buy gold jewelry in preparation for the upcoming celebrations. After all, according to beliefs, buying gold during this period brings good luck and prosperity.

Gold reserves

Experts estimated that Indian housewives store approximately 11% of the world's gold reserves — 25,000 tons of gold. In comparison, this is more than the reserves of the US and the IMF combined.

Such impressive gold reserves of India highlight not only the precious metal’s economic importance in the country, but also its deep cultural connection with family values. For many Indian women, gold remains more than just jewelry, but a symbol of well-being, status and financial stability. That is why the tradition of gifting gold at weddings has persisted for centuries, remaining an integral part of both personal and national wealth.

By the way, gold has not only cultural and economic significance. Today, this precious metal is used in various fields, including the development of modern technologies. Read more about this in the article: Gold and artificial intelligence.

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