Introduction:
Raksha Bandhan is coming soon, and sisters around the country will be tying Rakhi to their beloved brothers. The word Raksha Bandhan literally means 'the bond of protection'. This festival has a deep and relevant meaning embedded in the rituals of ancient India, symbolising the love and affection that a sister has for her brother. This fondness is depicted in the thread tied with a knot to a brother's right wrist, and in return, the brother promises to protect her from harm and trouble for a life time.

Even today, the most basic Rakhi is simply a piece of thread that is symbolic of the affection that a sister has for her brother and the protection that it represents. A range of stylish and elegant Rakhis are now available to appeal to the modern generation. Various shops, stores, and stalls across the country make it a point to stock a wide range of rakhis encompassing many themes.

Today, Rakhis come in a lot of designs to appeal to the modern crowd. Today's contemporary generation wishes to go along with the age old tradition of Rakhi albeit with a modern look. To cater to these demands, Rakhi manufacturers have incorporated innovation and modernism into their designs along with the traditional glitter and shine. Rakhis such as Floral Rakhi, Silver Rakhi, Gold Rakhi, Zari Rakhi, Pearl Rakhi, Bhaiya-Bhabhi Rakhi and Zardosi Rakhi are widely sought after.

Zardosi Rakhi:
Zardosi Rakhis are very popular and fashionable amongst the trendy and the elite as they incorporate traditional Zardosi work for Rakhis. Zardosi Rakhis incorporate intricate wire designs with silk thread and fabric. Earlier Zardosi work used intricate gold wire, however, other metals are also used to make zardosi rakhis. Zardosi Rakhis are usually expensive due to their elaborate designs and superior hand work.

Bhaiya Bhabhi Rakhi:
Bhaiya Bhabhi Rakhis espouse the values of virtue in one's extended family. By venerating one's bhabhi as one's true sister, the notion of the Rakhi festival extends its meaning to convey the message of chastity and universalism in relationships. Bhaiya Bhabi Rakhis are extremely venerated and a great choice with modern shoppers.

Kids Rakhi:
Kids Rakhis are specially designed for kids. Youngsters and children prefer Rakhis that appeal to their innocence and naughtiness. Therefore, Rakhis with themes like Spiderman, Batman, Pokemon, Shrek, and other Cartoon characters are especially popular.

Floral Rakhi:
Floral Rakhis are extremely popular with people of all ages in the country. Floral Rakhis embrace the beauty of floral designs in their creation. Some Rakhis incorporate the sweet fragrance of such flowers. Floral Rakhis can also include big and small flowers in their design.

Silver Rakhi:
Silver Rakhis lend the traditional touch and are trendy and stylish too. Most silver rakhis utilize a variety of traditional and customary designs to evoke a charming appeal. Silver Rakhis come with intricate design work and many come set with semi precious stones as well.

Gold Rakhi:
If you want to convey your message of sisterly affection to a brother who has a heart of Gold, then what's better than a Gold Rakhi for him? 24 carat Gold Rakhis and Gold Plated Rakhis are the best choice. Similarly, Gold Bracelet Rakhis, Gold Chain Rakhis, and Gold Rakhis with coins displaying various symbols like Om, Krishna, Durga, Lakshmi, etc are extremely popular.

Pearl Rakhi:
Rakhis with Pearls and associated designs are extremely popular as well. Usually, a white or colourful Pearl is fixed to the central part of the Rakhi, or a colourful thread is passed through the central part of the Rakhi. Other Pearls are also added to increase the beauty of the Rakhi and make it look more appealing. Fresh water Pearls, Hyderabadi Pearls, and Cz Pearls are usually used in the decoration of these Rakhis.

Zari Rakhi:
Zari Rakhis display a very traditional and ethnic appeal with the inclusion of fine Silver, Golden, and Silk threads. They are usually decorated with Sequins, Beads, Pearls, Kundan, and other materials to make them look more attractive and elegant. Many Zari Rakhis also include Satin Strands to give them a very graceful appearance.

There are literally hundreds of Rakhi designs that are available in the market, but the ones mentioned above are more fashionable and well-accepted. Choose from a brilliant collection of Rakhis available from stores and stalls across the country and even abroad. The message of Rakhi has global appeal and strikes a chord in hearts around the world.