Nazarbattu rakhi: ‘See no evil’ spin to band of spl bond

Ranchi: City markets are bustling with crowd and abuzz with hues of stars, beads, and traditional rakhis ahead of Raksha Bandhan. The festival muhrat will begin from Wednesday night and will continue till Thursday. The state government, however, has officially announced holiday on Thursday for the festival.This year, customers are flocking to get their hands on the exquisite Nazarbattu Rakhi which are priced between Rs 30 and Rs 200. These rakhis are available in crystal, brass, and artificial diamond options. Vijay Kumar, a seller at Main Road, said, “Every girl prays for her brother's safety from the evil eye. That's why sisters are keen on buying the Nazarbattu rakhi.” Misha Swaraj, a customer, said, “This time, we opted for Nazarbattu rakhi. We were drawn by its unique design.”Silver bracelet rakhis and custom-made rakhis featuring names also saw a lot of demand. Priyanshu Ranjan, a seller at Maa Gayatri Jewellers, said, "Silver rakhis are highly sought-after during Raksha Bandhan. Additionally, many sisters prefer silver bracelets to adorn their brothers' wrists. This dual-purpose demand is keeping us busy."Customized rakhis are also a hit online. Rita Kumari, a customer said, “All my friends have chosen custom-made rakhis this time, personalized with the names of their brothers.”Jaipuriyan, raisin, chandan rakhi, and resham dori along with cotton rakhis also saw a lot of buyers. Meanwhile, kids are charmed by cartoon characters, peacock wings, and lighting rakhi designs. Ravi Kumar, a seller at Upper Bazaar, said, “Metal-crafted rakhis are also catching attention. They offer both style and comfort.”Combination rakhis, bundled with akshat and rodi, are also high in demand. Himanshu Agarwal, a retailer from Rangrez Gali, said, “Combo packs with two rakhis, accompanied by diyas, thalis, rodi, and akshat are beautifully packaged. These range from Rs 250 to Rs 600, and the upper-middle class is particularly interested in these offers. With choices ranging from traditional silk threads to trendy designer rakhis, the market thrives on personal preferences.”