Lucknow: City markets are ringing, glittering and expanding the meaning of Raksha Bandhan this year, as shoppers in Aminabad and Nazirabad pick rakhis that play music, double as bracelets and mark bonds beyond the traditional brother-sister equation ahead of the festival on Aug 28.At novelty counters stacked with bright bands and tiny gadgets, 11-year-old Soni paused at a musical rakhi fitted with a small device. With a button press, it plays “Mera Bhaiya Mera Chanda,” a detail she said would delight her brother.Traders say such pieces are among the biggest draws for children this season. Shopkeeper Amit Sonkar said musical rakhis priced around Rs 120 have been moving steadily, with sales of about 15 to 20 a day over the past week.Cartoon-themed designs remain another crowd-puller. Characters like Motu Patlu, Chhota Bheem and Shinchan appear on colourful threads, giving younger buyers familiar faces to tie into a customary ritual.Alongside playful styles, the city’s lanes are also reflecting a broader shift in who the thread is for. Vaidehi Singh (23) came to Aminabad looking for something for her elder sister, choosing a lumba—an ornate dangling rakhi traditionally worn with bangles and linked to Rajasthan’s Marwari community. “A lot of what I am today comes from having her beside me,” she said. Traders note that lumbas, once commonly tied for sisters-in-law, are increasingly being used to celebrate close relationships between women.Nazirabad trader Vivek Tiwari said lumbas range from classic reds and golds to softer shades and are selling at around Rs 60.Family sets are also gaining traction. Bhaiya-Bhabhi combos, priced between Rs 120 and Rs 400, are being chosen by sisters and mothers to include sisters-in-law in the celebration.Some buyers are extending the festival’s symbolism to nature through Vriksha Bandhan rakhis—long, flower-adorned threads tied around trees as a pledge of care.Meanwhile, Gen Z shoppers are gravitating toward minimalist, wearable bracelet rakhis, often engraved with names or initials.Starting at Rs 250, these personalised pieces are selling consistently; a representative at Shyam Rakhi Shop in Aminabad’s Mumtaz Market said the outlet is selling roughly 20 to 25 a day.
