VOA标准英语2009年-Gold Prices Impact 'Festival of Lights'

By Jennifer Glasse
London
17 October 2009

 
Hindu women purchasing silver and gold ornaments¹ on the eve of Dhanteras during the Diwali, the festival of lights in Hyderabad, India (file photo)
Soaring gold prices are having an unexpected impact on a major religious holiday celebrated² in South Asia and many other parts of the world starting Saturday.  The Festival of Lights, or Diwali, is the biggest holiday of the year for Hindus and other religions in South Asia and thousands of Hindus are expected to gather in London to celebrate. But one Diwali tradition, buying gold, is changing because of high prices.

It's a busy time of year for jewelers in London's East End. Many in this neighborhood are from South Asia and are celebrating Diwali. Store manager Vikram Santilal says buying gold bars or coins is traditional at this time of year.

"During the Diwali season, you have the days running up towards Diwali and the five days after Diwali, where coins, investment bars will be bought because it's very auspicious³ to be bought, so you do find people to come in to but that memento⁴ as well," he said.

But with the price of gold at an all time high, things are changing. Customers are looking at other precious metals, like platinum⁵. Now only about $300 more an ounce than gold.

"There is change in some people traditionally expected platinum to be an expensive metal, people are looking at it in the same terms as gold values," said Santilal.

Another jeweler, John Jacobs, is seeing a different trend. "The gold price has gone up so high, so what you normally get for 100 pounds earlier, you don't get that much for the same amount, they get a better thing for the same price when it comes to diamond," he said.

Jacobs says both the old and the young are switching to diamonds this year. Their price has remained stable.

"The main difference I have seen is people are moving from 22 carat gold jewelry⁶ to diamond jewelry, maybe what they say is true is diamonds are forever, and diamonds always is a lady's best friend," he said.

The economic recession is also affecting Diwali buying, jewelers say in general the pieces are smaller, whether gold, platinum or diamonds.

1 ornaments   

n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The shelves were chock-a-block with ornaments. 架子上堆满了装饰品。
• Playing the piano sets up resonance in those glass ornaments. 一弹钢琴那些玻璃饰物就会产生共振。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

3 auspicious   

adj.吉利的；幸运的，吉兆的

参考例句：

• The publication of my first book was an auspicious beginning of my career.我的第一本书的出版是我事业吉祥的开始。
• With favorable weather conditions it was an auspicious moment to set sail.风和日丽，正是扬帆出海的黄道吉日。

4 memento   

n.纪念品，令人回忆的东西

参考例句：

• The photos will be a permanent memento of your wedding.这些照片会成为你婚礼的永久纪念。
• My friend gave me his picture as a memento before going away.我的朋友在离别前给我一张照片留作纪念品。

5 platinum   

n.白金

参考例句：

• I'll give her a platinum ring.我打算送给她一枚白金戒指。
• Platinum exceeds gold in value.白金的价值高于黄金。

6 jewelry   

n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝

参考例句：

• The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
• Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。