Mumbai: Mumbai’s famed dabbawalas plan to gift a special set of silver jewellery to Britain’s Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle’s newborn, Prince Archie, an office bearer said Thursday.
On Friday, a group of dabbawalas will pay a visit to some of the city’s reputed jewellers to buy the best designed items for Prince Archie, who, so to speak, is already born with a silver spoon.
The snap up list for baby Archie includes a Marathmola (traditional Maharashtrian style) package comprising a silver kamarpatta (waistband), a pair of todas (wristbands), and a pair of walas (anklets).
Dabbawalas Association spokesperson Subhash Talekar explained that as per traditions of their community, a grandfather gifts these three items on the birth of his grandson.
When asked for the proposed value of these gifts, Mr Talekar replied tactfully, “We would have loved to present these auspicious items in gold, but we have certain constrains. It is not the value of the gift but the thought behind the gift is important. And this will be adorned by the blessings of all the dabbawalas.”
On Monday, Prince Harry, duke of Sussex, and Meghan, a former American actress, became the proud parents of the baby boy, bringing cheer to the British royal family and the people of Britain.
To be known as Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor instead of one of his father’s titles, Prince Archie is seventh in line to the British throne.
When Prince Harry and Meghan walked down the aisle on May 19, 2018, the Mumbai dabbawalas celebrated by distributing sweets to patients and relatives at the Tata Memorial cancer hospital and the Wadia Hospital.
They topped it off with a special gift pack comprising the Maharashtrian bridegroom attire of a kurta-pyjama and pheta (headgear), and the bride attire of a navvari; a colourful Paithani saree; and a mangalsutra made of black and gold beads and seven green bangles for the bride.
