Threads with funky patterns

Each kind of love is acknowledged and celebrated. Each relationship gets a day of celebration, be it Mother’s Day , Father’s Day or Grandparent’s Day. So it is only natural that the bond shared between a brother and sister is celebrated with as much enthusiasm. The special day of ‘Raksha Bandhan’, which in Sanskrit translates to a ‘knot of protection’, makes up for all the quarrels and arguments that dot this special relationship. It is that one day when siblings get reprieved from their not-so-annoying fights and sisters look forward to receiving something special from their brothers.

While there is a wide selection of gifts that brothers can choose for their sisters, the brothers are not let alone with a simple thread. Rakhis are evolving every year and there is  a wide range of trendy ‘rakhis’ available in stores this year too. The traditional thread has been given a modern touch with fancy and funky designs. Shops are filled with colourful ‘rakhis’, which are designed to suit different age groups.

For toddlers, there are ‘rakhis’ with popular cartoon characters — Minions or the ‘Subraminion’, ‘Chhota Bheem’, ‘Doraemon’ and more. While varied cartoon characters are attracting the younger lot, it is the musical and Sandalwood themed ‘rakhis’ that are doing the rounds among others. There are ‘rakhis’ that reflect grandeur with heavy ‘zari’ and stone work. Online stores like Amazon too have a wide variety that caters to everyone’s needs.

‘Eka’, a store that sells lifestyle products in the City, has crochet ‘rakhis’ made by the tribes of Gaya, Bihar. Kimiko, the owner, says, “Made with care and love, these ‘rakhis’ are not just beautiful but refreshingly different. They can be the perfect way to express your special bond of love.” Simple and elegant, these ‘rakhis’ are ideal for those who want to keep the tradition intact yet have a modern touch to all the celebrations.

But the festival does not end with sisters tying the ‘rakhi’. Always ahead of their brothers, it is their time to demand a gift too. There are a lot of innovative gifts in stores that can get the sisters really excited. An online store, ‘Giftxoxo’ believes in making the festival special and they are helping the siblings gift ‘boxes of experience’. Along with ‘rakhis’ these gift boxes have several options to choose from, including the experience of kayaking, snow rock climbing, sumptuous food in Continental restaurants, pottery lessons and sight-seeing, all within the limits of the City. “Keeping in mind the constantly evolving needs of the ‘gen-now’ and the ‘gen-next’, we have unique gift boxes,” says Vivek, an employee of ‘Giftxoxo’.

‘Chumbak’, a ‘desi’ retail and online store, is offering a wide range of options too. They have coffee mugs with witty messages, ear studs, key chains and more, which can keep the sisters happy for a long time to come.

If you are unsure about your sister’s favourite things, then what better than gifting her a box of homemade chocolates? An online chocolate store, ‘Eat More Chocolates’ has designer chocolate bars (a mix of dark and white chocolate), with wishes printed on them, which come along with a ‘rakhi’. They have a ‘gem stone box’ with plain and roasted nut chocolates and butterscotch marbles to name a few. Anugya A Sinha, the owner of the store, says, “Today, when the prices of necessities are shooting up, we want to provide good gifting options at a reasonable price.”

There are options available for e-cards too and with many gifts to choose from, the ritual of love and harmony will be celebrated with splendour on August 29.