On Monday, India celebrated Raksha Bandhan, a festival symbolizing the unbreakable bond between brothers and sisters, with great enthusiasm. This year, the festival saw record-breaking sales of Rakhi, with a significant surge compared to previous years. Notably, there was no import of Rakhis or Rakhi-related items from China this year.
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) reported that the sales of Rakhis across the country broke all previous records, reaching approximately Rs 12,000 crore. Additionally, the sales of gifts, sweets, clothing, and FMCG items during the festival were estimated at around Rs 5,000 crore.
Praveen Khandelwal, CAIT’s National Secretary and MP from Chandni Chowk, was honored with Rakhi by the sisters of the Brahma Kumaris organization at his residence. Khandelwal highlighted that this year’s Rakhi sales have set a new record, with sales growing from Rs 3,000 crore in 2018 to Rs 12,000 crore in just six years. He noted that only 7% of the Rakhi sales occurred online, with the majority of transactions happening in physical markets across the country. This trend shows that people prefer to personally choose and purchase Rakhis, reflecting a strong emotional connection to the festival. This indicates that celebrations are being observed with renewed zeal, and there is a growing preference for domestically made products.
Khandelwal also mentioned that this year, various types of Rakhis gained popularity, including “Tiranga Rakhi” and “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam Rakhi.” Additionally, Rakhis featuring famous products from different cities were also a hit. Notable examples include:
- Chhattisgarh: Kosa Rakhi
- Kolkata: Jute Rakhi
- Mumbai: Silk Rakhi
- Nagpur: Khadi Rakhi
- Jaipur: Sanganeri Art Rakhi
- Pune: Seed Rakhi
- Satna, Madhya Pradesh: Woolen Rakhi
- Jharkhand: Bamboo Rakhi made from tribal items
- Assam: Tea Leaf Rakhi
- Kerala: Date Rakhi
- Kanpur: Pearl Rakhi
- Varanasi: Banarasi Cloth Rakhi
- Bihar: Madhubani and Maithili Art Rakhi
- Puducherry: Soft Stone Rakhi
- Bangalore: Flower Rakhi
The success of Rakhi sales this year underscores a positive trend in the festive spirit and a preference for local products.
ALSO READ: “Raksha Bandhan 2024: Know The History And Significance”
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