Sibling love turns cool this Raksha Bandhan

With almost a week left for the festival of Raksha Bandhan, the city markets are flooded with unique designs of rakhis this year. Numerous stalls have sprung up to vie for attention with latest designs.

With almost a week left for the festival of Raksha Bandhan, the city markets are flooded with unique designs of rakhis this year. Numerous stalls have sprung up to vie for attention with latest designs.

The biggest hit this year are the Angry Bird rakhis. From R3 to R25, the market is flooded with birds in different colours and materials. “The Ben 10, Doraemon and Chhota Bheem rakhis are also popular, but the Angry Bird rakhis are the bestsellers among children,” says Raja Bhai of Raja Rakhi Bhandar in Sadar Bazaar. It’s not just children, but even teenagers and college students are buying these rakhis. “Brothers and sisters have a love-hate relationship. The Angry Bird rakhi encapsulates that feeling for me perfectly,” says Harjyot Kaur, 20, a textile design student.

Strings of silver
You can also go for rakhis with American diamonds and semi-precious stones, as well as metal rakhis studded with colourful stones in ruby, tangerine or crystal white, which are available at shops in the markets of Lajpat Nagar, Karol Bagh and Rajouri Garden. Priced between R70 to R250, the rakhis are popular for their sophisticated look. “The metal rakhis are not too blingy. With the right amount of stones, they have an exquisite look,” says Richa Sharma, a customer. If you’re at Lajpat Nagar, you can also go for strings with studded stones for R20-R45. “These strings are light on the pocket and a big hit among young girls,” says Prem Kumar, stall number 75, Central Market, Lajpat Nagar.