With trends changing in practically everything around us, why should the traditional festival of Rakshabandhan be left behind! With each passing year, the market gets to see new varieties, types and sizes of rakhi, not to forget new prices.
Earlier, it was only a sacred thread tied by a sister around her brother’s wrist symbolising the love between the siblings. Now every year new varieties of rakhi can be seen in the markets.
There are rakhis available for children, religious minded, the modern and the trendy, the sober and the matured, not to mention even politically inclined people. The religious segment of the society can have a choice of rakhis studded with plaster idols of lord Ganesh, lakshmi and other gods and goddesses. These rakhis have colourful bands to give them a decent look.
“The cartoon series has been going on for the last couple of years. They range from Doremon to Bal Ganesh to Ben 10 in the range from Rs 10- 100”, says Mohammad Habib, shopkeeper in new market. There is also a new type of Doremon rakhi embedded with lED light is available, he added.
Habib further said that by the end of this month rakhi with Indian currency will also be sold at his shop. This year there is an increased demand of sandal wood and crystal rakhis ranging from Rs 20-300, he added. Along with silver and gold plated rakhis, this year American diamond rakhis are also sold in the market. These range from Rs 100-3,000.
lumba, a type of rakhi tied by sister-in-law to her brother-in-law in traditional Marwadi and Rajasthani families, is gaining popularity in the market.