Bond of love: Packed with Gita, sold by Muslim
ALLAHABAD: Giving the traditional rakhi a designer twist is passé. This Rakshabandhan what’s selling like hot cakes in Allahabad is a rakhi packed with a miniature version of Bhagwad Gita.
And with the seller being a Muslim woman, Sabra Begum, the idea is also catching fancy of the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb ambassadors.
“While I was in Kolkata to buy rakhis in bulk last week, I discovered that the Bhagwad Gita was much in demand. It was then that I decided to combine rakhi with the ancient Hindu scripture. This would become a Rakhsabandhan gift from sisters to their brothers this festival,” says Sabra, who procured the mini version of Bhagwad Gita in bulk.
“With Gita being one of the greatest spiritual books the world has ever known, I knew people will like it as a gift with rakhi,” she says while showing her design — a delicate rakhi packed with roli, mishri, chandan, chawal and Gita. Over two dozen rakhi packs have already been sold, she says.
“It was one of the first few lots that got sold very quickly. We now have only few pieces left in our shop,” claims Sabra, who had set up a makeshift rakhi shop in Civil Lines.
A devout Muslim, Sabra possesses considerable knowledge of many Hindu festivals. “I know that offering coconut to Hindu gods and goddesses is considered auspicious and so I brought tiny coconut rakhis that also have roli, chandan and other puja items. My rakhis are very popular with women,” she boasts about her shop where exquisite Gujarati and Marwari rakhis are also available for sale.
“We have Rakhis that are priced between ` 10 and
` 700. We don’t want women to return disappointed when they are not able to afford these exclusive collection of designer rakhis,” she adds.