Editor’s Note
This article highlights a vendor’s bold guarantee of authenticity at a heritage festival, offering a substantial reward to anyone who can prove his gemstones or Rudraksha beads are counterfeit. Such claims underscore the importance of trust and transparency in traditional markets.
The stall of Pt. Shubham Mishra from Pauri Garhwal is the center of attention at the ongoing Heritage Festival at Dehradun’s Parade Ground. He not only provides people with genuine gemstones and Rudraksha beads but also offers a unique challenge: if anyone can prove that any Rudraksha or gemstone purchased from his stall is fake or inauthentic, they will be immediately awarded a cash prize of 50,000 rupees.
Shubham Mishra says that in a market currently flooded with fake and synthetic gemstones, his move has set a new example of transparency for customers.
Pt. Shubham explains that he has all types of natural and authentic gemstones and Rudraksha beads available. His stall offers a diverse range, from one to fourteen-faced Rudraksha beads, Narmadeshwar Shivling, Sphatik Shankh (crystal conch), and jewelry/items made with gemstones like sapphire, emerald, topaz, and ruby, including malas, bracelets, and yantras.
He mentioned that foreign tourists visiting Rishikesh often buy gemstone bracelets and rings from him. He also has a special ring with a mini conch, containing a real conch shell of just 0.5 mm in size, which has become a center of attraction among people.