Rudraksha threads to American-diamond rakhis: Hadha Sarai and the city's bazaars fill up ahead of 28 August

Raksha Bandhan falls on Friday, 28 August this year — the Purnima runs from the morning of the 27th to the morning of the 28th — and the city's rakhi trade has not waited for the last minute. Hadha Sarai, one of eastern Uttar Pradesh's biggest rakhi markets, has been busy from morning to evening, with buyers coming in from the surrounding blocks as well. Shopkeepers there say selling began earlier than usual this season and has been brisker than last year's. What is on the strings has widened considerably. Alongside the plain cotton thread there are pearl and kundan designs, stone and American-diamond work, rudraksha-studded threads, and rakhis carrying Ganesha, Om and Ram motifs. Children go for cartoon characters; younger women lean towards the designer pieces; there are tricolour and Kaal Bhairav-mask versions too, and musical ones for anyone who wants the wrist to make a sound. Prices run from a few rupees to a few hundred, so the same stall can serve a school bag and a gift box. The rush spills sideways in the usual way — sweet shops, dry-fruit counters, gift stores and puja-supply shops are all seeing heavier footfall. One thing worth looking for while you shop: handmade, eco-friendly cotton rakhis made by women's self-help groups, which are quietly finding more shelf space each year.

Compiled by HelloBanaras from public sources: KTV Varanasi · Live Aaryaavart