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Not-so-golden weddings

How record gold prices are taking the sparkle out of Indian weddings.

Gold prices have reached record highs this year, resulting in changes in buying habits, investment patterns and traditional customs. For the Fifth Floor, 麻豆社 language service journalists reflect on changing practices around gold in their regions and from the 麻豆社's Delhi Bureau, Abhik Deb explains how sky-high prices are making a huge difference to Indian weddings, including his own.

Around a fifth of Guatemalans leave their home country to seek economic opportunity abroad, particularly in the USA. The money they send home offers vital support to the families they leave behind, but their earnings are also often used to build luxurious new houses in their hometowns. These homes, sometimes called 'remittance mansions', stand out from the traditional Guatemalan architecture all around them. For 麻豆社 Mundo, Atahualpa Amerise went to Guatemala to take a look.

This episode of The Documentary comes to you from The Fifth Floor, the show at the heart of global storytelling, with 麻豆社 journalists from all around the world.

Presented by Faranak Amidi.

Produced by Laura Thomas, Caroline Ferguson and Hannah Dean.

(Photo: Faranak Amidi. Credit: Tricia Yourkevich.)

Available now

27 minutes

Last on

Mon 29 Dec 2025 03:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Sat 27 Dec 2025 18:32GMT
  • Sun 28 Dec 2025 00:32GMT
  • Sun 28 Dec 2025 10:32GMT
  • Sun 28 Dec 2025 22:32GMT
  • Mon 29 Dec 2025 03:32GMT