Digital greetings might have replaced greeting cards but nothing can ever steal the charm of rakhis, which symbolise the eternal brother-sister bond. Rakhi markets in Kolkata, which had shrunk in the pandemic years, are once again buzzing and prices are soaring.
Right from the wholesale hub of Burrabazar and its vicinity such as Satyanarayan Park to the retail prices at Ram Mandir and Hatibagan-Shyambazar in the north to Jadu Babur Bazar, Lake Market and Gariahat in the south, even makeshift kiosks dotting the street corners in the city are commanding steep prices for rakhis.
Rakhi markets in north Kolkata
Young women pick the best of rakhis for their siblings at Satyanarayan Park, Shyambazar and Hatibagan
Satyanarayan Park
Known for its wholesale prices, Satyanarayan Park in Burrabazar has a wide array of rakhis to offer. Starting with the simple ones to ones decorated with beads, stones and zari, everything is available. Beaded rakhis are selling for Rs 10 to Rs 50. Rakhis packed in boxes come at Rs 40 a piece. Then there are metallic rakhis priced between Rs 70 and Rs 250. The most trending rakhis for kids this year are those with LED lights. Be it cartoon characters or toys, each and every such rakhi has twinkling LED lights attached. Some look like watches, while some bands even have pop-it. From Rs 20, these LED rakhis are sold for Rs 50 onwards. Simple cartoon rakhis are priced at Rs 10 to Rs 20.
A woman glances at rakhis while walking through rows of rakhi stalls in Hatibagan
Hatibagan
The stretch from Hatibagan crossing till Shyambazar has quite a number of makeshift stalls selling rakhis. All the stalls have a huge collection of rakhis from Rs 10 to Rs 250. While you will get a lot of options in the price range of Rs 20 to Rs 50, the metallic ones cost a little more. The metallic bracelets adorned with stones are priced at Rs 180 per piece. They come in boxes. The LED rakhis for kids cost Rs 40 to Rs 50 per piece.
Ram Mandir
The stretch between Girish Park and Mahatma Gandhi Road on Chittaranjan Avenue also have a few stalls selling rakhis, some with all the trending rakhis of this year — be it the beaded ones, the metallic rakhis or stone-studded ones. Each and every kind is available. Kids rakhis are also available. Rakhis are priced between Rs 10 and Rs 200 depending on the size and adornments.
Rakhi markets in south Kolkata
Customers are literally spoilt for choice at Jadu Babur Bazar, Gariahat and Lake Market
Jadu Babur Bazar
Two days before Rakhi Purnima, sale of rakhis at Jadu Babur Bazar in Bhowanipore was more than satisfactory. Several permanent and temporary shops are selling new collections of rakhis. While the prices of rakhis start from as little as Rs 5 and go up to Rs 150, most are being sold between Rs 15 and Rs 50.
Old-timers at the market, who have been selling rakhis for the past several decades, said big foam rakhis with a lot of sequin and glitter used to be very popular in the 1990s and early-2000s. “People are more fashion-conscious now. They buy metal rakhis with intricate designs (Rs 20 – Rs 50). They shine like gold and silver, but are not big. These rakhis can be worn to workplaces as well,” said Harbinder Singh, proprietor of Sardar Store.
But Harbinder had a different take, too — that of general sales dipping over the years and the trend being attributed to the disintegration of the joint family structure. “Even 15 years ago, sisters would buy at least five to 10 rakhis for their cousins. Now, it has transformed into Raksha Bandha to just a sibling festival. Besides, most families now have one child.”
The rakhis with Krishna (Rs 15) photos are also popular at Jadu Babur Bazar. On the other hand, rakhis for children are the same as other markets. “The Spider-man, Chota Bheem and Motu Patlu rakhis (Rs 10-Rs 15) are the most in demand among cartoon rakhis,” said Kishan Yadav, a vendor.
Gariahat
Motu Patlu rakhis on sale at Gariahat
Within a limited budget of Rs 50, smaller and thinner rakhis with intricate designs are selling the most. According to Ram Mondal, a vendor: “The rakhis with sophisticated designs are in demand. They are mostly made with plastic and rubber. Besides, cartoon rakhis for kids are selling at Rs 15-Rs 20 and LED-lit rakhis at Rs 10 are doing good business.” Another vendor, Ripon Adhikari, said while all rakhis at his shop were new, no new trend or designs have been introduced this year. “Rubber rakhis with cartoon characters or even LED light rakhis are not new,” Adhikari said.
Lake Market
A wide array of colourful rakhis at Lake Market
According to vendors, small rakhis are the most popular. “For some reason, small rakhis designed with peacock feathers (Rs 10) are very popular,” said Sunny Yadav, a vendor.
Some local kindergarten schools have bought rakhis in bulk. “These are mostly the rubber-made cartoon rakhis and some LED rakhis,” said Bappa Das, another vendor. Talking about the craze behind the demand for smaller rakhis, Das explained that, in most cases, the brothers go out to work after the ritual. So, it is embarrassing to wear a huge rakhi at the workplace.
