Raksha Bandhan 2023: Easy guide to buying the perfect rakhi for your brother

Siblings: They can use your secrets as the greatest weapon to land you in trouble with your parents. They are also the ones who will stand by you when the whole world turns its back on you. To celebrate the love and the special bond between a brother and a sister, India is all set to celebrate Raksha Bandhan 2023.

The true essence of this festival lies in a promise a brother makes to his sister to protect her from all kinds of evil and ensure her safety.

Over the past few years though, the tradition has witnessed prominent changes. Today, Raksha Bandhan is celebrated between sisters, fathers and daughters, children and parents and everyone who shares a bond of love and vows to protect a loved one. Regardless of who celebrates the festival, there is one who continues to be the star of the festival: Rakhis.

This year, Raksha Bandhan is going to be celebrated on August 30. With the festival ready to knock on our doors, vibrant and colourful rakhis have already made their entry into the markets. This said, people too have flocked to the stalls to get their hands on some of the best rakhis. Now is the perfect time for you too to begin with your rakhi shopping.

Mid-day online hit the busy lanes of Dadar market in Mumbai and hunted for some online platforms selling not just stunning but unique and cool rakhis, to save you from the hassle of picking the perfect one.

Old rakhis are back in the markets along with new designs

Photo Courtesy: Aakanksha Ahire

Dadar is one of the most preferred destinations in Mumbai when it comes to festival shopping, be it for Ganesh Chaturthi or Diwali.

Now with Raksha Bandhan around the corner, stalls in some of Dadar's prominent lanes are adorned with hundreds of rakhis that are a mix of both old and new designs. Customers were seen rummaging for outstanding rakhis while the sellers were busy catering to each customer's requests and demands.

Two stall owners, Praful Gopal Dhotre and Nilesh More, both in their early 60s, have been selling rakhis at Dadar's Ranade Road for the past 20 years. Managing to answer questions amidst attending to the noisy crowd, both spoke of having observed striking transitions in rakhi designs every year.

Dhotre says, "When I started selling rakhis, they used to be huge and were big enough to cover the whole wrist on one side. Now, people prefer to go with more subtle designs".

More on the other hand speaks of the old rakhis having returned to the market this year. "They are the same old rakhis that we used to sell some 10 years back. Surprisingly people are buying them this time. So we ordered more of those in over 3-4 different sizes. It's good to see people buy the old rakhis as well".

Rakhi makers seem to have taken the tradition of ‘Raksha Bandhan' in an absolutely literal sense this year as we saw evil eye rakhis heavily dominating the collection. These rakhis are available in various colours besides their usual blue.

The price range of these rakhis ensures every person regardless of their buying capacity stands a chance to pick a special one for their loved ones. A basic rakhi can cost you somewhere between Rs 5 to Rs 40. Those wanting more decorative and bead-studded rakhis can buy them from Rs 50 onwards. The most expensive rakhis here do not exceed Rs 250.

The multiple options people have to choose from seem limitless in Dadar market.

Rakhi collection for children

Photo Courtesy: Aakanksha Ahire

Rakhis for children are the trendiest of all. These trends are heavily driven by the newest popular cartoon shows and characters. Although nothing beats Chota Bheem and Spiderman rakhis for little brothers, the newest collection of children's rakhis is sure to double the fun of this Raksha Bandhan. Peppa Pig cartoon has been enjoying a good amount of popularity for quite some time and has also found its way into the rakhi collection.

What's more, the majority of rakhis have fancy LED lights, making it more attractive for the kids. All rakhis for kids range somewhere between Rs 30-50 including the LED light rakhis.

Shop for unique rakhis online
If a busy work schedule is making it difficult to go to the store or if you are looking for something out of the box this year, we have you covered. Here are four online platforms you must check out.

Mesmerize


It is an e-commerce fashion accessory brand that has launched its first handmade rakhi collection of natural stones. Each of their rakhis carries profound and meaningful symbols.

The intricate designs encompass various elements such as the protective evil eye, the spiritually resonant ‘Om' symbol, the balanced and harmonious seven chakras and the serene presence of Buddha.

The use of natural stones not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also adds a touch of authenticity and uniqueness to each piece. It is believed that these stones have healing properties.

Cost: From Rs 399 to Rs 499. They also have rakhi kits available ranging from Rs 699 to Rs 1799.
Expected delivery time: Orders are dispatched between 24-48 hours after placing them. Customers can expect delivery within 2-5 days pan India.

Plantables


An e-commerce website known for selling eco-friendly and plantable products is selling plantable rakhis. These plantable rakhis have been handcrafted using coloured plantable seed papers made from wood-free waste cotton scrap with vegetable and wildflower seeds embedded in them.

These fun rakhis come attached to a cotton thread and can be combined with add-ons like roli and chawal in cute cotton paper pouches, plantable greeting cards, a grow kit with a coir pot, cocopeat coin and instructions on how to plant the rakhis.

Their plantable rakhis are 100% biodegradable, organic and eco-friendly and are made in Agra by a small community of paper artists including ladies from challenged economic backgrounds who are trained in-house to make these products.

With Superman, Spiderman, Black Panther, Ironman and Batman, this is a cute collection of sustainable and eco-friendly pop-culture-themed / quirky rakhis that make for an interesting selection for all age groups.

Cost: Rakhis start from Rs 149 and go up to Rs 450 for a kit.
Expected delivery time: 2-6 days from the date of order, depending on the location of your delivery.

Refash


We all know that the fashion industry is one of the largest polluting industries in the world. Refash is a sustainable brand that focuses on fabric waste management and creates beautiful products through upcycling.

Their skillfully upcycled rakhis are made out of surplus / leftover materials and have been handmade by artisans. These rakhis feature rescued materials that would've otherwise ended up in a landfill. You can also use these rakhis as a bracelet or an accessory once you're done with the festivities.

You can also extend their use by transforming these rakhis into curtain ties or lucky charms for your bag or personalised keychains.

Cost: Their rakhis, single and set, cost between Rs 200 to Rs 1,000
Expected delivery time: 4-10 days from the date of order.

Bombay Greens


A startup established by a Mumbai-based couple that offers DIY kits catering to different kitchen needs is also selling palatable rakhis. Naming their collection "You Gro Bro", their rakhis are eco-friendly, plantable, handmade and embedded with seeds like marigolds, basil or other flowering plants, depending on availability, so that you can plant them after the festival.

These rakhis too are hand-made by rural women that support them in improving their livelihood and well-being.

Cost: Their single rakhi is priced at Rs 399 and their kit costs Rs. 699
Expected delivery time: Within 5-6 days from the date of order pan India.

Easy DIY rakhis you can make at home
There is nothing like a handmade rakhi having a personal touch. If you wish to ditch buying rakhis altogether and make one by yourself, we share some creative DIY ideas.

1. Use any old bracelet that you have bought before as the base of the band, take thick paper and draw something that is special to your bond or just draw a cute object. Cut it out and using a needle and thread create two loops on either side and pull the bracelet through the loops for the paper artwork to be placed in the centre. You could stick it on top of the bracelet too if it is wide enough.

2. Take an old piece of fabric, which could be scrapped, and cut it into 3 long pieces with a width of an inch or an inch and a half, roll the fabric pieces lengthwise and then knot it like a braid. You could also put some beads into this while knotting.

3. Take a piece of satin ribbon, either a single one, or three and braid them together. Quill a few shapes using coloured papers. Cut a piece of thick paper in any shape you want, strong enough to hold the quillings, place the quillings on the paper in any format you like and stick them to the paper. Now stick the paper on the ribbon and your rakhi is ready.

4. Cut cardboard into any shape you like, take a piece of scrap cloth, this could be a scrapped saree, scarf or dupatta. Cover the cardboard piece in the cloth and using tape or glue, wrap it tight. Then stick the wrapped cardboard to either woollen threads or a ribbon or even a coloured nada. You can also decorate the wrapped cardboard with sequences easily available in the stationery stores.