Trading Hair
Why women in India shave their natural hair and why South African women want to buy it.
Thousands of tons of hair are sold in India every year with hundreds of women queuing up at the Hindu temple in Tirumala to have their locks cut off by the temple barbers. Having your hair cut or head shaved is considered auspicious and the clippings then become a major source of income both for the temple and the global hair industry. The global business is lucrative and growing rapidly, with South Africa emerging as a key market.
Justine Lang embarks on a journey of discovery to find out why women in India sacrifice their natural hair and why an increasing number of South African women want to buy it.
Airing as part of the 91热爆鈥檚 Identity season.
(Photo: Gopi from Chennai wants to offer up her hair to the Hindu god Vishnu in the hope he will answer her prayers)
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Broadcasts
- Wed 13 Apr 2016 02:32GMT91热爆 World Service Americas and the Caribbean
- Wed 13 Apr 2016 04:32GMT91热爆 World Service Online, Europe and the Middle East, South Asia & UK DAB/Freeview only
- Wed 13 Apr 2016 05:32GMT91热爆 World Service East Asia
- Wed 13 Apr 2016 06:32GMT91热爆 World Service Australasia
- Wed 13 Apr 2016 12:32GMT91热爆 World Service except News Internet & 91热爆 World Service ANR
Wed 13 Apr 2016 15:32GMT91热爆 World Service US Public Radio- Wed 13 Apr 2016 18:32GMT91热爆 World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa, 91热爆 World Service Core, 91热爆 World Service ANR & 91热爆 World Service US Public Radio
- Wed 13 Apr 2016 19:32GMT91热爆 World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Sat 16 Apr 2016 13:32GMT91热爆 World Service US Public Radio
- Mon 18 Apr 2016 06:32GMT91热爆 World Service East Asia
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