Come August, you know you’re entering the festive season in India, starting with Raksha Bandhan. This popular traditional festival celebrates the bond between siblings, where sisters tie their brothers an amulet, better known as a rakhi. This cherished festival gets all the family members involved — even the littlest ones. They get to participate in a celebration of the bond of sisterhood and brotherhood. One of the highlights for children is the joy of receiving gifts, and starts them off actively celebrating Rakhi from a young age. But with this season, begins another planning list for parents — Rakhi gifting. There are multiple options in Kolkata from which you can pick and choose adorable and useful gifts for the youngest family members. I have listed a few tried-and-tested options below that will make your Rakhi shopping easier and ensure the little ones feel special.
For the crafty kids: Make it Matter
Sisters Prachi Bajaj and Ritansha Bagaria started Make it Matter, a gifting and event styling brand in 2009. They have mastered the art of personalised hampers and have curated Rakhi hampers for children, making parents’ lives easier. Wheels on the Bus, Tom & Jerry, Candy Floss — their hampers cover all likes and dislikes, with a wide assortment of goodies specific to popular themes.
For the style guru: Sanctioned by You
A quirky streetwear brand for kids and teenagers, Sanctioned by You is comfortable and stylish. They have launched an exclusive unisex Raksha Bandhan collection to cover gifts for the fashionable troopers at home. Their matching sets help create memories and come packaged perfectly — requiring minimal effort from your end. Their collection covers all age groups, adults too!
You can shop from their website here.
For the stationery lover: The Design Room x The Art People
Avantika Almal, Niharika Jatia and Aakriti Agarwal have come together and designed beautiful stationery hampers, suitable for all ages. The hamper includes stickers, gift cards, flat tags, luggage tags, a diary amongst many other things that they let you customise.
For the Instagram-savvy teenager: Nestasia
Nestled on Russell Street and accessible online, Nestasia offers a curated selection of gifts perfect for trendy older teens. Whether it’s a stylish sipper bottle and bento lunchbox with chopsticks for the Instagram foodie or a chic pastel Half Moon Bag for the young fashionista at home, Nestasia has something for everyone.
For the playful one: The Baby’s Barn
Other than providing contemporary kids’ furniture, The Baby’s Barn has come up with a Rakhi gifting menu too. Custom door hangings, mirrors, easel, piggy banks, storage baskets, doll houses — they have it all. Tanvi Tahlani, a young mother of one, has mastered kids’ furniture and gifting solutions together.
For perfect sleepwear: Neenee
Located on Camac Street, Neenee offers luxurious and thoughtfully crafted matching night suits that guarantee comfort and style. With a wide collection of innovative designs for children up to the age of 14, these night suits are a fail-safe gift sure to please both young and older children at home.
Check out their collection online here
Quarrels, banter and unconditional love, sibling relationships are cherished, and this is the season to spoil and be spoilt. All of the brands listed above are available in Kolkata, making them perfect for your last-minute shopping needs. Let this guide help you spread love this Raksha Bandhan and leave the young members of your family feeling appreciated.
The author is an economist and full-time millennial mother, struggling to cope with daily chores.
