Want a rakhi with a picture of Jai Hanuman, the animated film? Or a full geometry box kit with a rakhi in it? Or a sketch-pen with a rakhi? Move over Mickey Mouse! These rakhi innovations are here to stay. | |
| At least for this year, before the fad changes course. With the changing times, Rakhi "" a festival on which brothers promise their sisters a lifetime of protection "" has taken a new look. |
| |
| Apart from old comic characters and gods and goddesses, Spiderman, Harry Potter and even the latest "in thing", Krrish, have replaced the flower-and-chandan rakhi variety. And the prices of these new-fangled rakhis can vary anywhere between Rs 15 and Rs 35. |
| |
| The majority of these rakhis are designer ones imported from China and are expected to give tough competition to their traditional Indian cousins. |
| |
| Speaking to Business Standard, Abhishek Singh, a gift-shop owner in the Ghumar Mandi area, said though the Indian rakhis cost less, yet people preferred China-made rakhis. |
| |
| "This is so because most people are tired of seeing the same type of rakhis for years and want to try something new. Earlier, we used to see that sisters would buy rakhis themselves but now their young brothers accompany them and choose which rakhi they'd like to wear. Kids prefer comic characters on rakhis while older people still prefer the traditional kind." |
| |
| While taking a look at the market we found Rajasthani rakhis made from colourful stones and pearls with dabka for the older lot. The price? Between Rs 35 and Rs 50. Rakhis depicting a decked-up Lord Krishna, along with an Om are also in great demand. |
| |
| That's the Mumbaiya touch and can be had for Rs 60-90. |
| |
| "I have bought a rakhi with a pen attached to it for my eleven-year-old brother. He is fond of pens and he can also use it after the festival. I have spent Rs 75 for three rakhis," says Poonam. The other two are likely to be as enterprising, but Business Standard doesn't check them out! |
| |
| The flip side of the celebrations comes with several shopkeepers saying that rakhi greetings have taken a backseat amid all this brouhaha over designer rakhis. |
| |
