New Delhi: A plain, simple, red-coloured thread was once enough to symbolise a brother's pledge on Raksha Bandhan to protect his sister. But girls today are on the lookout for a variety of threads studded with beads, crystals and even cartoon characters, as well as expensive threads with gold and silver motifs for the occasion.
The markets are awash with emerging trends. Kriti Creations, a store in Khan Market, is offering a wide range of threads with booti, feng shui and chandan rakhis. It is also offering special sets and decorative thalis to add pizzazz to the celebrations. "We have as many as 3,000 designs and the range starts from Rs.5 and goes till Rs.500. Every year different designs come and girls are crazy about wanting the best of rakhis for their brothers," Mukesh Goel of Kriti Creations told IANS.
The range is wide and eclectic. Frazer and Haws is offering stone-embellished rakhis and special rakhis like Hanuman Chalisa, Rangraksha, Omeya, Good luck rakhi and Morpankh rakhi. Capital-based Delhi Haat houses threads from different cities.
Besides the usual resham thread, bangles and bracelets have also picked up popularity on the festival, but the charm of a hand-made rakhi continues to remain. Most rakhis are priced between Rs.5 and Rs.900. But if you go for a silver or gold rakhi, expect to burn a hole in your pocket considering the current price of the metal.
IANS gives a lowdown on the types of Rakhis readily available in malls, shops and streets:
Mouli: It is the good old red and yellow coloured thread, extensively used as part of Hindu customs and rituals. It is also known as kalava.
Beaded rakhi: Just a wee bit more elaborate than the plain thread, these rakhis come with colourful plastic or wooden beads. Perfect for someone who likes to keep the celebration simple.
Sandalwood rakhi: These rakhis have motifs made using sandalwood. A whole lot of people opt for the 'chandan' rakhi, which emits a heady fragrance.
Cartoon rakhi: To pamper your little brothers, go for threads with cartoon characters like Tweety, Mickey Mouse, Pokemon, Doremon and Chhota Bheem. Chances are he will keep it for a longer time.
Musical rakhi: If you don't mind investing a little more than regular threads, go for the ones which can play some music. The market offers some which play instrumental tunes, while some even play popular Hindi songs.
Gold and silver rakhi: Looking at a long-term investment? Opt for a rakhi made with a gold or silver motif. Of course, it is priced much more than a regular one, but it's a good option to those planning to give their brothers something special for keeps.
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