Fear pink slips? Get a gold fish

Puneites are beating economic blues by investing in decorative fish that they believe will bring them good luck and help family prosper

In these economically troubled times, Puneites are splurging on an uncommon indulgence decorative fish. In fact, shopkeepers say that there is nearly a 10 per cent growth in sales compared to last year.

With fears of salary cuts and job loss increasing, people are following the advice of vaastu and feng shui consultants and going in for arowana, common goldfish and black moor goldfish in the belief that they will bring them good fortune.



Good luck
Ashok Kamble, a businessman having his retail shop at Kothrud said, he invested Rs 10,000 for installing a fish tank at his home and work place as the present economic slowdown has been badly affecting his business. "My friend suggested I keep common and black moor goldfish as a good omen," he said, adding that the move has improved his business.

Vaastu shastra consultant Anil Toshniwal affirmed that keeping eight common goldfish and one black moor in a tank can consume negative vibrations and create positive ones, making the family prosper. "And if one of the common goldfish or black moor dies, it is considered that the danger lingering over the family is over," he said.

Boom in sales
Sujit Rambhatkar, a wholesale trader in decorative fish said that people are going in for decorative fishes on the advice of vaastu and feng shui consultants. "There is 10 per cent growth rate in sales as compared to last year," he said.

Arowana couple costs Rs 1,200, while a Short Body Flowerhorn is Rs 600. However, the cost varies from area to area, said Raj Sarda, a retail shop owner in Phule Market.