GO TO SOURCE


KARNATAKA, INDIA, August 18, 2002: Lingappa, 45, a push-cart bhelpuri food vendor, lost most of his customers when new road construction changes were made in Bangalore three years ago. Bhelpuri is a popular dish made of puffed rice, chickpeas, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, cilantro, etc. Times were hard and his only consolation was buying lottery tickets — which soon became an obsession. “I used to spend US$1.00 a day on lottery tickets,” he says. On July 25, he closed shop early and bought five tickets from the Playwin outlet near his home. The next morning, he discovered he had won the US$567,000 jackpot. But Lingappa didn’t go crazy with joy; he didn’t even tell the lottery vendor that he had won. He knew that the news would attract unwanted attention. It was only when someone wrongly claimed to have won the jackpot that Lingappa came forward with his ticket. Suggestions on what he should do with the money are pouring in, but he is clear: first he will build a temple in honor of his deity, Shani (Saturn). Lingappa, who has not cut his hair for years (because of a vow he took before Shani), will become the priest. Only after the temple is constructed will he build a house. “I’ll deposit some of the money in my children’s name,” he says. “I also wish to help my relatives.” What will happen to the bhelpuri business? ” I don’t want to give it up. After all, it fed me for 20 years,” he says.

Post Views: 213