This Raksha Bandhan, Jassi rakhi jaisi ko

Page

Smile

@Smile

Inactive

Posted: 20 years ago

Express News Service

Express News ServiceRajkot, August 17: Rakhi, the sacred thread which signifies the bond of love between brothers and sisters, has undergone a sea change over the years - be it the way the festival is celebrated or the designs. Raksha Bandhan is two weeks away and markets have been flooded with new designs. Spiderman and Jassi are the favourites this year. These rakhis, designed by Shree, a Kolkata-based company, have caught the fancy of many girls.

< = src="http://ads.expressindia.com/banner/iestoryban.js"> < = src="http://banners.expressindia.com/adsnew/adjs.php?para=no&n=289198665&what=zone:135&target=_blank&exclude=," =text/>

While friendly-neighbourhood Spidey strikes various poses, Jassi smiles away through her braces with 'Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin' engraved around her picture.Another piece in great demand is the rakhi with a small toy puppy which gets illuminated when given a squeeze. It costs Rs 80 per piece, but that is no deterrent for shoppers. Although there is ample time for the festival, rakhi sales have already seen an upward swing and most retailers are stocking up to meet demands for unique rakhis.Rajkot has about 500 small and big rakhi shops, and on an average, a shop sells over 1,000 pieces daily. The figure is expected to grow three-fold, feels J K Sindhav, who has been in the business for 20 years. "My 10-year-old brother is crazy about Spiderman. I think he should love a rakhi with his favourite comic character," says Shruti Chudasma, who is shopping well in advance. "There are still 15 days to go. I am shopping early to get the best variety." There are also rakhis with toffees attached. "I have seen rakhi like this for the first time. It's ideal for brothers with a sweet tooth," jokes another shopper Reena Bhatt. Other varieties in demand are real silver rakhis that come for Rs 50 to Rs 80 and the traditional looking tulsi-beaded strings. There are rakhis with zardosi work, Monalisa stones, American diamonds, perfumed ones and ones made from imported leather.While most rakhis are manufactured locally, this year fancy rakhis have come from Mumbai and Kolkata. "I am in this business for 35 years. Nothing is more satisfying than to see sisters shopping so earnestly for their brothers. Many spend around an hour to select rakhis suiting their brothers' tastes," says Yusif Johar, owner of Johar Cards. "We bring out new designs every year. We have more than a thousand designs of loose rakhis besides the exclusive packed ones," he informs.

Quote

This Raksha Bandhan, Jassi rakhi jaisi ko

Related Topics

Explore Topics