Initially, in August 1905, as Bengal prepared for the partition designed by the British to separate Hindu and Muslim populations, Rabindranath Tagore walked the streets of Calcutta, asking strangers to exchange threads on their wrists. This was Raksha Bandhan, and Tagore transformed a domestic ritual associated with sisters protecting brothers into a public act of protest. Hindus tied rakhis on Muslims, and Muslims on Hindus, and even for one day, the colonial administration's attempt to create division through the Bengal Partition met a response at the street level in the form of a silk thread. This gesture became Tagore's reaction to the 'divide and rule' strategy, which he felt threatened the foundations of the nationalist movement; in his hands, the rakhi ceased to be merely a family custom and became a symbol of a common, undeniable union between communities.
Festival Turnover
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) estimates that the sale of rakhis in India this year could reach nearly 25,000 crore rupees. The broader turnover associated with Raksha Bandhan, including sweets, dry fruits, gifts, clothing, electronics, decorative items, puja items, and other festive goods, is projected to exceed 30,000 crore rupees nationwide. Delhi alone is estimated to bring in about 4,000 crore rupees, with major markets such as Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar, Karol Bagh, Lajpat Nagar, Kamla Nagar, Rajpuri Garden, Gandhi Nagar, Hari Baoli, and Lakshmi Nagar showing increased purchasing activity before Raksha Bandhan. These figures are estimates by CAIT, based on data from traders and trade associations, and not on verified market data.
