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Raksha Bandhan: Rakhi Thalis new style in Rajkot
by Suresh Soni

          Rajkot: Raksha Bandhan festival is round the corner and the markets in Gujarat are flooded with rachis. Rakhi is a sacred wrist band, in different designs and shapes and colours, tied on a brother's wrist on the day. The latest attraction is the "Rakhi Thalis" or decorative dishes. A Rakhi-Thali contains all the assortments like sweets, Roli, tiny Lord Ganapati (Ganesh) idol required to hail the festival. Yusuf, owner of a Rakhi shop, said: "This year, we have at least 2,000 varieties of Rakhis that include sandalwood Rakhi, Rakhis with American diamond, Rakhi with Gods and Goddesses and so on. Along with it, we have "Rakhi Dishes" for the first time. These dishes have all the items that are used on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan like Roli (vermillion thread), sweets, deities' idols." These special Rakhi-dishes are available in different materials like paper, stainless steel, copper and thermocol. Their prices depend on the material used and range between rupees 50 to 200. No wonder, girls and women are eagerly shopping for these Rakhi-dishes decorated in varied designs. Chandaniben, a woman customer, said: "The charm of these decorated Puja Thalis is irresistible. They have everything including sweets. These dishes are so attractive that anyone like me would go confuse over any particular dish's selection." The readymade Thalis or dishes save time to collect all things required while tying Rakhi, the sacred band, on brother's wrist. Manishaben, another customer, said: "This year we have got an additional item in the form of these Rakhi-Thalis (Rakhi dishes). Generally, a sister prepares a dish for tying Rakhi on her brother's wrist that includes sweets, rice, Roli and other things. But these Rakhi dishes are readymade and well-decorated." Besides, like previous year, the Rakhi makers have come up with a variety of designer Rakhis this time too. In Rajkot, the market is flooded with at least 2,000 varieties of Rakhis ranging from traditional sandalwood Rakhis, stoned-embedded Rakhis, silver and Rudraksha Rakhis to to Rakhis carrying characters from Bollyood to Hollywood. From characters like Krrish, Hanuman to Harry Potter, it is all available in the markets these days. History has it that when queen Karnawati, the widow of the then king of Chittor realised that she could in no way defend the invasion of the Sultan of Gujarat, Bahadur Shah, she sent a Rakhi to Mughal emperor Humayun. The emperor touched by the gesture, accepted the Rakhi thereby accepting queen Karnawati as a sister and immediately started with his vast troops to protect her. A Hindu festival, Raksha Bandhan is celebrated to herald the bondage between brothers and sisters. Celebrated on the full moon day during Shravan month as per Hindu almanac the festival is waited by all brothers and sisters. This year it falls on 28 August.
- August 26, 2007

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