Sunday, 04 AUGUST 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
With the Rakshabandhan festival just a few days away, shops and makeshift stalls in Dehradun are adorned with a wide array of Rakhi designs, notably featuring the ‘Ayodhya theme’. Traditionally, the Dehradun market, mainly Paltan Bazaar, experiences an influx of diverse designs such as cartoon characters, Rudraksha beads, religious motifs and more. However, this year, the Ayodhya theme Rakhi designs are flooding the market.
A Rakhi vendor in Paltan Bazaar, Sunil Sharma stated that while he primarily operates a cosmetic store, he also includes Rakhis for sale for Rakhshabandhan.Each year, the introduction of new designs captivates customers, but this year, the prevalence of Ayodhya theme Rakhi designs is particularly popular. Sharma said that he noted the noticeable increase in sales of Rakhis featuring designs of Lord Ram this year.
Another seller of Rakhis, Mukul Dhingra stated that he has decorated his shop with various types of Rakhis to cater to the diverse demands of customers, as each individual may seek different designs of Rakhis. Specifically for small children, he offers cartoon character Rakhis. He added that he has observed an increasing trend of girls purchasing Nazar design Rakhis for themselves, solely for fashion purposes.
Rakhi vendor Vishnu Chaturvedi said that this year, with the change in Rakhi designs, the prices of Rakhis have increased by an average of 10 to 15 per cent. He noted that the Rakhi he sold for Rs 20 last year is currently priced at Rs 30. However, he added that he offers a range of Rakhis with different designs and prices, starting from Rs 20 to Rs 100.
A customer Renu Upadhyay said that her brother is relocating from Bengaluru, so she purchased a Rakhi in advance to ensure it can be sent to him promptly. She expressed her admiration for the Ayodhya-themed Rakhi this year, which is why she opted for a Rakhi symbolising Lord Rama for her brother.
