Weaving brotherhood across Ahmedabad’s ‘border’

Rakhi, the threads that girls tie on the wrist of their brothers on Raksha Bandhan, signify the bond of love that exists between brother and sister. These threads also stand for a brother's promise to protect and look after his sister all her life.

It is interesting that, in Ahmedabad, most of the rakhis, which have beads and icons of gods and goddesses stitched on them, are made by Muslim families living in Millatnagar area of the city.

"We make rakhis throughout the year. We also have workers who work with us to make the special thread. Depending on the material used, the rakhis we make are priced at Rs2 per dozen to Rs240 per dozen," said Salauddin Mohammad Rafi, owner of Juuly Rakhi.

Rafi said he had been in the rakhi-making business for just seven years but he and his family were already earning well. "I am proud that I make these sacred threads for my sisters and brothers of the other community," he said.

Rakhis made by the Muslim families of Millatnagar are sold to retailers, wholesalers and even to individual customers.
Owner of Navrang Rakhi, Mohammad Sharif Ansari, makes rakhis that are priced from Rs5 a dozen to Rs180 a dozen.

Explaining why his rakhis were so expensive, Ansari said that the coloured beads stitched to the threads were bought at wholesale rates but the 'diamonds' (white stones) were expensive even at wholesale rates. "That is why these rachis are expensive," Ansari said.

He said that it took more time to make the 'diamond' rakhis than the simple or beaded rakhis. "The time factor also affects the pricing of rakhis," said Ansari who has been in the business for more that 40 years.

Rakhis are made on the basis of 'gross'. In a day members make atleast 200 gross (1 gross = 12 dozen x 12 dozen = 144 pieces). Which is to say that one gross will comprise 144 pieces of rakhis. Incase of simple beaded rakhis there could be atleast 250 gross made in a day. But in case of diamond rakhis, around 100 odd gross are made, as it takes more time.

Informing about their earnings or profits they make at the end of month, owner of Kamal Rakhi Store, Moharram Ali said that, "Earnings depend on the sale. After giving the same to our workers and paying the whole sellers for beads and other accessories, we get around Rs2 lakh in hand. Pure saal ki mehnat aur paseena humein itna hi deti hain, par hum khush hain (the whole year provided us with only so much of money, but we are happy with it)" Saying this he continues to segregate rakhis, counting and checking for each piece. Ali has been working in this field since the age of 13 years. Today he is carrying forward his family business at the age of 32.

While the festival generally lasts for a month, wherein buyers keep coming to buy stock from them, the remaining gets carried forward for the following year. One month of festive and earning, persuades these families to get back to their creative platforms once again, to make rakhis for the following year.

Their rakhis are sold not just in Gujarat, but they are also traded outside Gujarat, such as Maharashtra, Indore and the like.