RAKSHA BANDHAN 2020: YOUR RAKHI HAS A MESSAGE – QUARANTINE BRO!
As siblings prepare for Raksha Bandhan this year, sisters have got plenty of innovative options for the sacred thread. And amid Covid-19 outbreak, the festival, too, is going to be themed around the current situation, as online shopping websites and social media are flooded with rakhis bearing messages such as ‘stay safe bhai’ and ‘stay home’, among others.
Noida-based Shramita Govin, who is selling such rakhis as part of her collection, says, “People are finding the ‘stay safe bhai’ rakhi interesting, and ordering it like anything. Girls want the festival to be sweet yet relevant for their families.”
Shuchi Pandya, founder of a popular jewellery portal, believes that the festival can be made memorable by keeping social distancing norms in picture. “We have designed rakhis with tag lines ‘quarantine bro’ and ‘stay at home’. Our endeavour is that even if some siblings may not be able to celebrate together, we can help to keep their bond alive through some humour, quirk, and witty memorabilia!”
Another rakhi that’s selling like hot cakes is the one with a stethoscope charm. Amtosh Singh, director of an online shopping portal, says, “Those in healthcare field are rendering their services and self-quarantining as well. It’s for them that we have introduced a new design of doctor rakhi, with a metal stethoscope, because it’s really relevant right now.”
Moreover, as many sisters plan to revive their lockdown memories, Jaishika Dhanetwal, an entrepreneur from Ahmedabad, is offering Ludo-themed rakhis. “Maximum people remained entertained during the lockdown through Ludo. So we conceptualised this rakhi to help them make new memories of their time in quarantine!”