LOTTERY, LAXMI AND LUCK

The game is not worth the candle.
MONTAIGNE
By Osama Manzar
India is a country of myth, religion, tradition and faith. Every year, in the month of October, as soon as ‘Dushehra’ overs, there, one can see & listen in the newspapers and magazines, in TV and radio The Nagaland Bumper Lottery, Sikkim Lottery, Swam Ganga.....
That is, Dipawali is approach ing. The festival of ‘Laxmi Pujan’.And Laxmi is the Goddess of money. For everything that is related to money has to start and restart, establish and re-establish on this a day. if Dipawali is a festival of light and sound (of crackers), it is more important festival f those who wants money, invests money and in creases money. Hindus in general and businessmen in particular, keep their houses and shops open so that the Laxmi comes to every household unhindranely. This faith become tradition and tradition is now a belief for ever and ever.
New shops get inaugurated, new schemes get introduced and heavy offers come to fore only on this occasion. Talking to the various agents and organisers in the lottery trade, about the causes of the specific bumpers being offered on the occasion of Dipawali, the general opinion has been found to be ‘Laxmi’. Says Raja Chadha of Chadha Agencies, “Since Dipawali is a festival of Laxmi and India is a country more populated by Hindus than any other religion. So the import ance of money in this festival is inevitable. And the lottery, for them, is the most legal gamble to participate in, with comparitively, no money.”
Besides, explains Sanjay. J. Chadha of Sanjay Agency, “Apart from the traditional fact there is an analytical reason behind it too. India is basically an agricultural country and most of the consumers are from middle class. They possess, spend and invest money only during the festival periods, tht is: October to March. Also, most of the festivals lie during this period only.” “More over, other seasons re primarily more important for other inevitable responsibilities.
After March, it’s a time of admissions, vacations and, for a few, outstation touring. All these do not let the consumers to invest money unguarantedly. And hawkers find it very torturous to come out in summer,” he further explained.
This time, Dipawali has more offers than before. First time, ,‘Money back Bumpers’ have come up. in this gamble there is only gain and no loss. For instance, buy a ticket of Rs 500 and apart from the opportunity and luck of winning all the prizes there is a guarantee of the amount to be back, in the shape of Indira Vikas Patra. Says Sanjay Chadha, “In this case even if the agent or organiser escapes, the ‘Patra’ can be cash in”.
But, the irony is that the people who have enough money can only take this special chance. For the buyers, who cannot give Rs 500,their fate is still in stake.