Stone-studded, cartoon rakhis in vogue

Silver rakhis are still in demand but what about the other new threads that bind and celebrate sibling revelry during Raksha Bandhan? We check out
It’s that time of the year when a sister breaks into her piggybank and gladly parts with her savings for her dear brother to buy a rakhi for him. While simple threads can speak a thousand words when it comes to expressing a show of sibling revelry, there are many who wouldn't mind splurging on trendy and exquisitely creative designs.In a state that has a strong fascination for silver rakhis, we check out what are options that are in vogue this year.
Streetside rakhi shops offer various kinds of rakhis to cater to different age groups. While cartoon-shaped and multi-coloured rakhis attract kids, teenagers are hooked on to more fancier stuff. Stone-studded rakhis and those with peacock feathers are popular among the youngsters. Middle-aged and working women of Odisha usually prefer silk threaded uni colour rakhis. Needless to say, elderly people are comfortable with traditional designs and don’t usually want to experiment.
Shankar Pattnaik, owner of a local rakhi shop in Bhubaneswar, shares, “This season, stone-studded metal rakhis are much in demand. Their price varies from `300 to `1,200 according to the variations in sizes and designs.” But, for those who have monetary constraints, pocket-friendly rakhis are in vogue. Like Abhipsa Padhi, an engineering student, prefers to buy small and simple rakhis. “I don’t like big, flashy or the expensive ones. Rakhis with Om symbols or a motif of Ganeshji are my favourite,” she says.
Jewellery shops of the city also are also doing good business this year, thanks to the demand for silver rakhis. Designer rakhis with mina artworks, rudrakshs or American diamonds are in vogue this season. “Rakhi has always been a very special occasion for me. So, every year I always try to buy rakhis with innovative designs to surprise my brother. This year, I heard that silver rakhis are very popular. I’m planning to buy some trendy ones studded with stones,” says Adyasha Mohapatra, a student.
Though youngsters prefer metal rakhis, no one can beat the traditional filigree designs that are unique in Odisha. New designs might be in vogue but they can’t take away the attention from the filigree work. The glitch, if any, is the price (`300 to `700) that can burn a hole in the youngsters’ pockets. Price is also the reason gold rakhis aren’t sold in Bhubaneswar. The jewellers feel, a gold rakhi is way too expensive to spend on for an occasion that comes once in a year. However, some shops have gold bracelets that look like rakhis and they’re hoping that they’ll be in demand during this rakhi season.
Those who can’t afford silver work have other options to choose from. Floral rakhis are an answer to their worries. Says Abhimanyu Swain, a florist in Bhubaneswar, “We start making floral rakhis a day before the actual celebration so that they remain fresh. The cost varies from `15 to `250. People love it because they are fresh and pretty”