When I was a child, I often saw my Dadi take out a small cloth pouch from a wooden box in the pooja room. Inside it were tiny gold and silver coins — some shining bright, some old and faded. I once asked her, “Dadi, yeh sab aap kyu sambhal ke rakhti ho? aur Pooja Ghar mai kyon?”
She smiled and said in a very secretive tone, “Beta, yeh sirf sona-chandi nahi hai… yeh tum sab logo ka bhavishya sawarne ke liye hai.”
And truly, that one line sums up a timeless Indian tradition of keeping gold and silver safe for the next generation.
Sona-Chandi: Shagun bhi, Investment bhi
From mundan to janmdin, from shaadi to parivar mai bacche ka janm — in every Indian home, there’s one common thing: the tradition of giving silver and gold coins on all occasions.
When a child is born, elders gift a small silver coin — shubh shagun ke liye.
At weddings, gold jewellery is gifted — not just for style, but as a blessing that stays forever.
During Diwali, new gold coins are bought — Lakshmi ji ke swaroop mein.
Every coin, every bangle, every tiny silver spoon carries a story — of love, faith, and foresight. Our ancestors knew that gold and silver are not just ornaments, but a saving for tough times — apda ke samay ka sahara. Nobody wishes tough times but it happens to all of us.
Purane Zamane ke Secret Lockers
You know what’s fascinating? Our elders didn’t have fancy lockers or safes — yet their gold never got lost. Because they had smartness and belief.
My Nani used to say,
“Beta, sona kabhi saamne nahi rakha jata. Usse sambhal ke, soch samajh ke chhupaya jata hai.”
And she meant it. Back in those days, people used to hide and store their sona-chandi in well thought places in the house, such as:
- Mud grain kothi – wrapped in red cloth, buried deep inside grain pots. Nobody in the family was allowed to touch these mud kothi except the Matriarch of the family and secrets passed from her to next lady in line of the family.
- Floor near chakki – hidden beneath the flour grinding area, a place of daily abundance.
- Pooja room – the most sacred corner of the house, where silver coins and idols stayed with the Gods.
- Near the well or tulsi plant – Silver coins were generally ket in these places as these spots were believed to attract prosperity and peace.
These weren’t random hiding places. Each place had the wisdom of the family around it— combining security with spirituality.
Small Savings, Big Legacy
In every generation, the women of the house quietly added their little share — one silver coin here, one gold chain there. Slowly, this collection became a symbol of the family’s strength.
When times were hard, those same coins became the savior of the family. When a daughter got married, dadi ke dibbe se came the first bangle. When a child was born, nani ki tijori se came the silver spoon.
This is how our elders planned — little by little, for the next generation — without ever using big financial words. Just simple faith and consistent care.
Today, the Tradition Still Shines
Even in today’s modern homes, with digital wallets and online banking, this tradition continues. We still buy silver coins on auspicious days and gold jewellery for special occasions.
Because deep down, we know — yeh sirf investment nahi hai, it carries the wisdom and emotions of the family.
When we store that little coin safely in our locker, or offer it in pooja, we’re not just saving wealth — we’re carrying forward the wisdom of our ancestors.
As Dadi would say,
“Jo sona-chandi sambhal ke rakhta hai, woh sirf paisa nahi, apne parivar ka bhavishya sambhal ke rakta hai”