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To: FormerlyAnotherLurker
Well yeah. It is fairly common knowledge that these guys used to weigh their AGA, an hereditary title, and give the old boy his weight in gold in a rather elaborate ceremony. Check your National Geographic files.

Honest, I don't make this stuff up.

10 posted on 11/03/2003 3:12:45 PM PST by Kenny Bunk
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To: Kenny Bunk
Sorry but I have the National Geographic set 1883 to 2000.
The Aga Khan III received his weight in diamonds for the Diamond Jubilee of the Imamate, March 10, 1946, but he didn't get that on birthdays.
And, the actual subject of this article is the Aga Khan IV. His grandson BTW.

Ismailis do tithe 12.5% - 25% of their gross income to him but I have never found any reference to a 'birthday present'. The tithe is called Dassondh. The majority of Ismailis pay their Dassondh on Chandrat(new moon). So it's paid (in cash) monthly. I have read where at a wedding the dowry and gifts were assessed and the tithe had to paid before the ceremony began.

Perhaps a weighing is planned for the current one's Golden Jubilee but I have never seen any reference to that (2007?).

Thanks for the link. (it seems to have been corrected in the post)
14 posted on 11/03/2003 5:57:43 PM PST by FormerlyAnotherLurker
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