Precious metals replace modest threads as Rakhi traditions evolve

Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on the day of the full moon during Shravana. The festival signifies a psychological and social bond between brothers and sisters.

By tying the ‘Knot of Protection’, a sister prays for her brother’s long life and well-being. The brother in turn presents the sister with some valuable gift as a token of acceptance for ensuring her protection from all adversaries.

Rakhi celebrations have evolved in recent times, shifting from the traditional ‘mauli’ to fancily designed modern rakhis made of precious metals like gold and silver.

Balwinder Verma Happy, a jeweller, acknowledged that even middle class families had been purchasing rakhis made of gold and silver during the past few decades.

“However, a steep rise in the prices of gold and silver has forced people to buy gold-coated silver rakhis instead of pure ones,” said Happy, adding that the cost of a silver rakhi was around Rs 2,000. Women from more prosperous families purchased gold chains and bracelets, said the jeweller.

Commonly, only sisters tie rakhis on the wrists of their brothers, but there have been a number of cases wherein the relationship or gender compatibility was not significant.