Amid Chinese products boycott, demand for local rakhi increases in Gujarat

Showing their solidarity with the rest of the country, shopkeepers in Ahmedabad have refrained from buying or selling Chinese rakhis this Raksha Bandhan. As a result, the demand for locally made rakhis has surged tremendously.

Ahmedabad: Till now, sisters used to personally go out in the market to chose rakhi and sweets for their brothers. This time, however, due to the restrictions on going out for shopping in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, they are sending their brothers a gift hamper containing rakhi, mask, sweets along with a greetings card and a personalized wooden frame as a memento.

However, there is difficulty in sending such a gift hamper by courier to destinations in Maharashtra because of a high proportion of coronavirus pandemic cases in the state. People residing outside Ahmedabad, within the country as well as abroad, too are preferring to receive such gift hampers on the Rakshabandhan day from their sisters.

Since these gift hampers are being made by local artisans, the practice is also promoting the idea of self-reliant India.

A buyer Tanuja Pandey said, "I am buying India-made rakhis only. This is so because we want to make sure that Indian goods are also sold while ensuring Chinese products are not."

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the markets missed the usual hustle-bustle ahead of Raksha Bandhan festivities. Another buyer said, "I will purchase only Indian rakhis and will not take Chinese rakhis. We are doing this to increase the economy of the country.