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In Kandaar, a tribal village in the Chakrata region of Uttarakhand’s Dehradun district, the local panchayat has passed a resolution restricting women from wearing more than three gold ornaments during weddings and other social events. The decision comes amid soaring gold prices and growing concerns over social pressure to display wealth. As per the resolution, women may wear only a mangalsutra (marital necklace), a nose ring, and earrings. Wearing additional gold jewellery at public events will attract a penalty of Rs 50,000. Eighty-year-old Uma Devi, a resident of the village, welcomed the move. “Most of us here are poor and live simple lives. I believe the panchayat has made the right decision,” she told News18. Villagers say the trend of wearing heavy gold ornaments became more common over the last 15-20 years, after a few men secured government jobs that improved their families’ financial status. Women would often wear designer gold sets weighing up to 180-200 grams. With current prices, the value of such jewellery ranges between Rs 22 lakh and 25 lakh, leading to social pressure on families who cannot afford it. Another resident, Tulsa Devi, also supported the restriction on jewellery and urged the panchayat to go further by banning “English whisky,” which she says has become a status symbol in social gatherings. “We used to brew local beverages in small quantities. But now, branded liquor has entered our homes, and it burdens families that cannot afford it. This must stop,” she said. Tilak Singh, who was part of the decision-making group, described the move as the first step toward broader social reforms. “This is just the beginning. More such initiatives will be introduced over time,” he said. (With inputs from Kuldeep Chauhan in Chakrata)
