post news network
Bhubaneswar, August 17: The many avatars of rakhis, the wristbands that signify brother-sister bond between people, were on top of the shopping lists of citizens ahead of Rakhi Purnima. Many made purchases of these bands over the internet.
Saraswati Patra found a rakhi of her liking on an online platform.
“I purchased a rakhi online as I do not have the time to go shopping in the city. The internet has made it easier to find a wide selection without having to go from shop to shop hoping to get a good one at a price of your liking. As internet can be accessed over smartphones and laptops, it makes purchases easy,” Saraswati said.
Several e-commerce sites were also offering customised rakhis along with gifts starting from Rs50 for Rakhi Purnima. Some sites also offered free shipping and cash on delivery options.
Nandita Goshal, a resident of Xavier Square, found the rakhis available online very attractive particularly as they came with offers. “Rakhis that are showcased online come at a lower price than those available in shops. And I feel secure buying them online,” she said.
The option to get shopping sites to deliver rakhis to people also made it a sought-after option.
Archita Dash, a student of Maharishi College, said: “With online options I don’t have to visit a post office or a courier service to mail a rakhi to my brother. I can directly do that through the shopping site. I can also be assured of delivery on time, unlike the postal or courier services.”
The apparent increase in online purchase of rakhis, though, hasn’t affected regular sellers, going by their own accounts.
“I have been selling rakhis for the past five years but I receive the same quantum of business now as I have done in the past,” Surya Narayan Mohapatra, a seller near Jaydev Vihar, said.
Sellers such as Surya Narayan are perhaps doing the right thing by offering new varieties of rakhis to keep their customer base intact. Rakhis that are finding more takers include kundan rakhis, pearl rakhis, those made of beads or peacock feathers, those with pictures of gods and goddesses, and ones bearing the swastika.
Rakhis with cartoon characters such as Spiderman, Chhota Bheem, Pokemon, Doraemon, Minions, Angry Birds and Ben10 are also attracting young buyers. These range in price from Rs5 to Rs200.
Sanjay Nanda, a rakhi seller near Unit I, said the bands with cartoon characters were in great demand just as last year. “Kids are liking characters such as Minions, Chhota Bheem and Angry Bird.
They are priced according to their design starting from Rs5,” Sanjay said.
For people who want their rakhis to be a lasting and precious presence on their brothers’ wrists, jewellers were pitching in with offers. Some jewellery shops were selling rakhis made of gold and silver on discounted prices.