Ahmedabad: All decked up, but Covid spoils Rakhi show

AHMEDABAD: In the run-up to Rakshabandhan, seasonal and specialty stores have come up with intricate rakhis in various colours and weaves, neatly placed outside shops, on counters amid fairy lights brightening up the evening. Innovators have gone ahead to launch rakhis that range from the minimalistic to blingy ones, traditional and even eco-friendly ones.
“We have come up with eco-friendly and reusable rakhis this time. One is made of dried flower petals whereas another has a small book on which one can write a message and later preserve it,” said Prakshal Mehta, a social entrepreneur.
Yet another Ahmedabad-based entrepreneur, Shailini Amin, came up with a rakhi made of seed paper that can be planted and will grow into a tulsi plant. “To empower a self-help group of women artisans from the city and contribute towards the environment, we came up with the idea of biodegradable rakhis,” she said.
While markets are decked up, the pandemic has played a dampener for the festive sentiment. Rakshabandhan has typically been about family gatherings and visiting loved ones and enjoying a long lunch. However, with cases continuing to grow customer footfall is much reduced.
Monica Yadav, a professional from Ahmedabad, gets to meet her cousins just once in a year and that is on Rakshabandhan. But thanks to the pandemic and the continually rising cases of Covid-19, she decided “Even though they stay a short drive away, this year, we have decided not to meet. It’s a house full of kids and elderly and even though there is no lockdown, the number of cases are going up by the day and we can’t gather and put one another at risk. Sad, but this year’s celebration will have to be limited to a distant one,” she said.
Like Yadav, there are many in the city who have kept away from elaborate family gatherings, and instead kept Rakshabandhan either an intimate or altogether a distant affair. Some, however, have continued to hold small gatherings at home. While restaurant business hasn’t picked up yet, most are putting their best foot forward providing specialized menus for takeaways on a pre-order basis. “People are afraid to go out and eat and that is why we thought of putting up a special menu for Rakhi for takeaways, which they can enjoy in the comfort of their home. The inquiries and bookings have been good so far,” said Devarsh Desai, a city-based food entrepreneur.