India, May 15 -- After Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to avoid buying gold, the Centre on Wednesday raised customs duty on gold and silver from 6% to 15% to curb imports and conserve foreign exchange amid the ongoing US-Iran crisis. The move has now pushed many Mumbai families and soon-to-be brides towards repurposing heirloom jewellery instead of investing in new gold.

"The jewellery which has been in our family for generations, will now have be repurposed, seeing the need of the hour," says the brides mother, whose daughter is an IT professional getting married this year November.

She adds, "My mom while she was sick 4 years back handed me her nathni, along with her jewellery. She wanted my daughter to wear it. Seeing how...