CHENNAI, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- Hair-raising sale. The world-famous Tirumala Tirupati Venkateswara Temple in south India has auctioned human hair donated by devotees for a whopping RM90 million.
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the temple's custodian, sold 466 tonnes of hair in its maiden e-auction last Thursday, where 49 bidders, including foreign buyers, joined in the bid, reported the Hindu newspaper.
Tipped to be one of the richest temples in the world, and perched on a hilly top in Andra Pradesh, the temple draws tens of millions of devotees and tourists annually.
Thousands of devotees tonsure their head as penance to Lord Venkateswara -- the presiding deity in the ancient temple.
According to local media, about 500 barbers deftly worked round-the-clock to tonsure devotees, including women and children, who travel to the hills on holy pilgrimage.
Daily, nearly one tonne of human hair is collected from 14 centres in the temple's sprawling complex and later sold to human hair traders. However, this was the first time it was sold on-line.
The flowing long, black and strong Indian hair is in great demand in the global fashion industry, in the production of wigs and artificial eyelashes.
India supplies nearly 30 per cent of world's human hair demand, second only to Brazil which dominates the industry with over 50 per cent.
China, the United States and United Kingdom are three major buyers of human hair.
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