Scams in Colaba area - 1

Vibhu Jindal · Mar 10th, 2006, 14:45

this is specially for foreigner travellers in and around Colaba in Mumbai.

While in Colaba ....many a times men dressed as hindu priests will approach you and offer to tie a naal ( saffron or dark vermillion coloured string, usually tied after the hindu puja is conducted in homes and temples) on ur wrist and while doing so he will give you bullshit "gyan" on spiritual matters ( like how this string will help you in ur life, how this will protect you from harm, what is the significance of this string, etc etc..).at the end he will ask for a small donation , which according to him is "voluntary" ( which turns out to be the contrary).

Kindly dont fall for these guys and avoid them ........even if they are insist or you feel it will be fun or cool to get it tied.

For this scam of a ritual they expect that an foreigner will unknowingly consider it as a genuine practice and give them some Rs. 30-50 as donation.

just give them a Rs. 1 or 2 coin when they tie a string to ur wrist and seehow they react ( either they willl coax u to donate more or give u some disgusting stare)

last weekend while walking with my friends parents who have arrived from Canada in Colaba, i was conversing with them in english......one of these guys took me for an NRI and rushed towards me crying " Sir, Sir, prasad for you from holy Haridwar", i avoided him initially but when he persisted i turned around and answered him in perfect hindi .....he got the point and scooted off.

Its interesting that these supposedly "priests" are found only in Colaba ....a place which has no religious significance but are never to be seen in and around any other place in Mumbai......

local festivals like Mahashivratri, Holi, Etc are big day for these guys as they make big by taking advantage of the occasion.

Many times foreigners consider that parting with Rs. 20 or 30 dosent make a big difference and just for the novelty factor they get it tied and pay these scamsters.....
dont do this as it will only encourage them.....

jivan · Mar 10th, 2006, 15:53

Good one Vibhu, it's always nice to know the 'entreprenurial' spirit in India is alive & kicking. Hmmmm..... maybe I should employ some of the same tactics in my business. On second thoughts... not needed as it is the wonderful world of acryonyms is enough to keep me as well as the clients befuddled

Nick-H · Mar 10th, 2006, 15:58

20 or 30? I'm astonished that they should ask anything less than Rs100 from a tourist --- or even "dollars please"!

I have to admit that, of the people who hang around temples asking for money, the fit, young, "holy" men are ones that I do not give to. They can work.

The real ones, walking with stick and pot, most often do not even ask, but just accept what is given.

A Hindu friend of mine from London who visited here recently was disapointed and disgusted with the state of temples here, finding them to be just commercial.

jivan · Mar 10th, 2006, 16:26

Thankfully there're a few temples left where commerce hasn't hijacked the main emotion/idea/feeling.

Vibhu Jindal · Mar 10th, 2006, 16:37

Nick-H , we must realize that we dont give enough credit to the business accumen of these tricksters........when they see a backpacker they ask for Rs. 20-30 when they see somebody appearing wealthier their donation rates are raised appropriately.

Nothing wrong in helping out a old helpless chap.

As for states of our temples....our daily life hypocracy ( we revere them yet make no attempt to maintain the cleanliness and hygene there....same goes for our public places) had permiated the house of god a long time back........else the house of gods which is supposed to be cleanest of all wouldn't be just another dirty place....

Mar 10th, 2006, 14:45	#1
Vibhu Jindal Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 423	Scams in Colaba area - 1 this is specially for foreigner travellers in and around Colaba in Mumbai. While in Colaba ....many a times men dressed as hindu priests will approach you and offer to tie a naal ( saffron or dark vermillion coloured string, usually tied after the hindu puja is conducted in homes and temples) on ur wrist and while doing so he will give you bullshit "gyan" on spiritual matters ( like how this string will help you in ur life, how this will protect you from harm, what is the significance of this string, etc etc..).at the end he will ask for a small donation , which according to him is "voluntary" ( which turns out to be the contrary). Kindly dont fall for these guys and avoid them ........even if they are insist or you feel it will be fun or cool to get it tied. For this scam of a ritual they expect that an foreigner will unknowingly consider it as a genuine practice and give them some Rs. 30-50 as donation. just give them a Rs. 1 or 2 coin when they tie a string to ur wrist and seehow they react ( either they willl coax u to donate more or give u some disgusting stare) last weekend while walking with my friends parents who have arrived from Canada in Colaba, i was conversing with them in english......one of these guys took me for an NRI and rushed towards me crying " Sir, Sir, prasad for you from holy Haridwar", i avoided him initially but when he persisted i turned around and answered him in perfect hindi .....he got the point and scooted off. Its interesting that these supposedly "priests" are found only in Colaba ....a place which has no religious significance but are never to be seen in and around any other place in Mumbai...... local festivals like Mahashivratri, Holi, Etc are big day for these guys as they make big by taking advantage of the occasion. Many times foreigners consider that parting with Rs. 20 or 30 dosent make a big difference and just for the novelty factor they get it tied and pay these scamsters..... dont do this as it will only encourage them.....

Mar 10th, 2006, 15:58	#3
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,792	20 or 30? I'm astonished that they should ask anything less than Rs100 from a tourist --- or even "dollars please"! I have to admit that, of the people who hang around temples asking for money, the fit, young, "holy" men are ones that I do not give to. They can work. The real ones, walking with stick and pot, most often do not even ask, but just accept what is given. A Hindu friend of mine from London who visited here recently was disapointed and disgusted with the state of temples here, finding them to be just commercial. __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

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Mar 10th, 2006, 15:53	#2
jivan Maha Guru Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Pune, India Posts: 836	Good one Vibhu, it's always nice to know the 'entreprenurial' spirit in India is alive & kicking. Hmmmm..... maybe I should employ some of the same tactics in my business. On second thoughts... not needed as it is the wonderful world of acryonyms is enough to keep me as well as the clients befuddled

Mar 10th, 2006, 16:26	#4
jivan Maha Guru Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Pune, India Posts: 836	Thankfully there're a few temples left where commerce hasn't hijacked the main emotion/idea/feeling.

Mar 10th, 2006, 16:37	#5
Vibhu Jindal Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 423	Nick-H , we must realize that we dont give enough credit to the business accumen of these tricksters........when they see a backpacker they ask for Rs. 20-30 when they see somebody appearing wealthier their donation rates are raised appropriately. Nothing wrong in helping out a old helpless chap. As for states of our temples....our daily life hypocracy ( we revere them yet make no attempt to maintain the cleanliness and hygene there....same goes for our public places) had permiated the house of god a long time back........else the house of gods which is supposed to be cleanest of all wouldn't be just another dirty place....

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