Aadi shopping fest wraps up with a glittering celebration

The second edition of the Chennai Times Aadi Shopping Festival campaign, which lit up the season with a perfect blend of festive spirit, shopping fervour, and entertainment for readers, came to a starry end recently.Engaging readers through interactive in-paper games, the campaign, which has quickly become one of the most awaited highlights of Aadi, drew over 500 participants this year, and culminated in a star-studded celebration at AVR Swarna Mahal, where winners enjoyed an exclusive meet-and-greet session with actress Pragya Nagra.‘I GIFTED A GOLD RING TO MY MOTHER WITH MY VERY FIRST PAYCHECK’After interacting with the winners, Pragya shared her most cherished memory related to gold. “My very first gold-buying experience was with my grandparents when they gifted me a tiny pair of gold earrings.

I was hardly five years old then and that visit is still one of my most treasured memories. Later, as an adult, I bought gold on my own for the first time after earning my first paycheck. I gifted my mother a gold ring with three flowers on it, symbolising me, my younger sister, and my brother.

That remains one of the most special moments of my life.”‘FOR WOMEN, GOLD HOLDS DEEP SIGNIFICANCE, AS IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH GODDESS MAHALAKSHMI’“Aadi is a festival that signifies growth and fertility, and since it also coincides with the monsoon — my favourite season.

I feel it is the best time to buy gold. When I first started exploring investments, I had no idea where to begin. I realised that gold is one of the safest and most reliable options. Even though times have changed, gold continues to protect us against inflation, which is why the majority of my investments are in it.

For women especially, gold holds deep significance, as it is associated with Goddess Mahalakshmi,” she says.‘I’VE ALWAYS BEEN AN EARRING PERSON, AND I LOVE BUYING THEM’Speaking about her jewellery preferences, Pragya shares, “I’ve always been an earring person; I just love buying them. My go-to ornament is the jimikki because there’s nothing more beautiful than that. Even if we wear chains, harams, or heavy necklaces, the jimikki always stands out. I also prefer simple chains with small pendants over heavy jewellery, as they suit both western and traditional outfits. And, I would choose traditional jewellery over contemporary styles — while contemporary designs do look good, traditional pieces can be worn and repeated with any number of outfits, which makes them timeless.

”‘For those looking at gold purely as an investment, coins and chains are the best options’Sharing her tips for buying jewellery, Pragya says, “My first preference is always a simple design, as it helps save on making charges. Purity of gold is equally important — I personally prefer 24k, though it’s difficult to get jewellery in that purity. Anything below 22k is not advisable. For those looking at gold purely as an investment, coins and chains are the best options since they usually come with minimal making charges.

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