CAIT expects the broader Raksha Bandhan market to cross Rs 30,000 crore, with Delhi projected to account for nearly Rs 4,000 crore this year
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) expects India’s rakhi trade to approach Rs 25,000 crore this year, with the broader Raksha Bandhan-related market, including gifts, sweets, dry fruits, apparel and electronics, likely to exceed Rs 30,000 crore.
Delhi is expected to account for nearly Rs 4,000 crore of the business, with shopping activity picking up across major markets ahead of Raksha Bandhan on 28 August. Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazaar, Karol Bagh, Lajpat Nagar, Kamla Nagar, Rajouri Garden, Gandhi Nagar, Khari Baoli and Laxmi Nagar are witnessing increased footfall, particularly during the evening hours.
CAIT national secretary general and Chandni Chowk MP Praveen Khandelwal said market activity this year was stronger than in previous years, with consumers showing interest in both traditional and theme-based rakhis.
Among the designs drawing attention are Viksit Bharat, Modi Guarantee, BrahMos, Nari Vandan, Atmanirbhar Bharat, Vocal for Local, Bharat Gaurav, Lakhpati Didi, Namami Gange, Rashtra Raksha Sutra and Amrit Kaal.
Khandelwal said BrahMos, Rashtra Raksha Sutra and Viksit Bharat rakhis were particularly popular among younger consumers, while Nari Vandan and Lakhpati Didi designs were finding greater interest among women.
The trend is also creating opportunities for women entrepreneurs, self-help groups and artisans. At a demonstration in Chandni Chowk on Tuesday, women artisans showcased the production of handcrafted rakhis made using coloured threads, beads and decorative elements.
For the women involved, the seasonal business provides an additional source of household income. Sarita Kumar, a resident of Haiderpur who has been making rakhis for three years, said the work enables women to supplement their family earnings during the festive season.
Kumar works with a group of around 25 women, with production divided into stages such as cutting threads, sorting materials, adding beads and attaching decorative pieces. She said an individual rakhi takes around two to four minutes to assemble.
The group sources raw materials from Sadar Bazaar. Another artisan said production costs are around Rs 3-4 per rakhi, with the products supplied to markets for Rs 6-7 and sold by retailers for around Rs 10 or more, depending on the design.
Local Craft And Festive Spending Drive Demand
The shift towards locally produced rakhis has coincided with a decline in the presence of Chinese-made products. Artisans said Chinese rakhis have had little presence in the market over the past two to three years.
Khandelwal said the preference for Indian-made products gained momentum after 2020, with consumers becoming more conscious of domestic production following the Galwan Valley clash.
The market is also drawing on craft traditions from across the country. Khadi rakhis from Nagpur, Sanganeri art rakhis from Jaipur, seed rakhis from Pune, tea-leaf rakhis from Assam, jute rakhis from Kolkata, bamboo rakhis and Madhubani art rakhis from Bihar are among the products reaching consumers this season.
Eco-friendly and seed-based rakhis are also gaining attention, adding an environmental theme to the traditional festival product.
Beyond rakhis, CAIT said demand has increased for gift packs, chocolate hampers, dry-fruit boxes, handicrafts, ethnic wear and traditional sweets. Khandelwal said local markets were continuing to attract shoppers despite the growing presence of ecommerce and quick-commerce platforms.
He said the changing nature of the rakhi market was giving women entrepreneurs, self-help groups, cottage industries and artisans a larger role in the festive economy.
Khandelwal described the growing preference for indigenous rakhis as part of a wider shift towards swadeshi consumption, linking the products with domestic manufacturing, women’s economic participation, environmental awareness and national pride.
