Modi Rakhi most popular 

Its Rakshabandhan across India. The markets are all set for the festival of Rakshabandhan and are offering traditional as well as designer and cartoon rakhi. But the most in demand are the ones bearing photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Modi in the form of a cartoon on Rakhi is very popular especially in Varanasi his constituency.

“Rakhis bearing cartoon characters and inbuilt lights have always been popular among kids but this year ‘Modi rakhis’, rakhi with photograph of Modi is attracting many children. These are priced at Rs. 30 to Rs 50 each.

Apart from Rakhis, the sweets are also in great demand and the shops are making good business. Special sweets are also  being made by the sellers for Rakshbandhan day.

 This  year the sellers have also introduced customised rakhi and mugs wherein a sister can get her brother’s picture on rakhi and brother in turn can gift mugs bearing their sister’s photograph.

 “While personalized rakhi are priced at Rs. 100 , personalized mugs are priced at Rs. 225 per piece.” These personalized rakhi as well as other gift items including mugs are giving a good business to shopkeepers.

Those imported from China featuring cartoon characters like Ben 10, Bal Hanuman, Chhota Bheem and Doraemon as well as Batman, Spiderman, Angry Birds continue to be the favourites of kids and are selling like hot cakes. Rakhi with inbuilt LED lights and sound system like previous years are also in demand.

Meanwhile, siblings separated by miles can still feel the love and warmth of Rakshabandhan with the attractive offers of rakhi and gifts on online shopping portals. The websites have introduced numerous festive offers for siblings living in different cities.

From traditional rakhi in designer thalis to combo of traditional and those bearing cartoon character rakhi and Indian sweets and dry-fruit hampers, the portals are offering everything in stylish gift hampers at reasonable cost.