Odisha’s Innovative Rakhi Trends Weaving Bonds and Sustainability

Odisha has its unique heartwarming stories of innovative Rakhi trends that are redefining the way the state celebrates this cherished festival. From the timeless artistry of Sambalpuri handloom to the savoury charm of flavoured rakhis and the earthy allure of terracotta, these narratives offer a glimpse into a Raksha Bandhan that’s as much about nurturing relationships as it is about nurturing our planet.

A time-honoured celebration of sibling love and protection, this festival has taken on new dimensions in recent times as creativity intertwines with tradition and sustainability. In the vibrant tapestry of India’s cultural diversity, stories emerge that showcase not only the bonds of kinship but also the profound impact of innovative thinking and eco-conscious practices.

Sumitra’s Sambalpuri Rakhis: Weaving Threads of Tradition and Empowerment

In the heart of Sambalpur city, Sumitra Mahakur’s journey began with a love for Sambalpuri handloom, a world-famous fabric celebrated for its intricate designs and rich heritage. Fuelled by creativity and an entrepreneurial spirit, Sumitra embarked on a remarkable journey to promote this cherished textile in unique ways.

Then, 2020 brought an unexpected twist—a global pandemic that prompted Sumitra to rethink her approach. With an eye for opportunity, she began crafting Sambalpuri masks, tapping into the demand for protective gear. The success of the masks not only showcased her business acumen but also reinforced her belief in the potential of local craftsmanship.

As Raksha Bandhan approached, Sumitra’s imagination took flight once again. She envisioned Sambalpuri rakhis, intricately woven with bits of fabric, beads, and laces. With determination and anticipation, she created 500 rakhis and offered them for sale on social media. The response was overwhelming, igniting her journey into the world of handcrafted rakhis.

A gifted tailor, she encapsulates the spirit of innovation. Reflecting on her path, she recounts, “My expertise lay in tailoring, and during the pandemic, Sambalpuri masks became very popular. That’s when I realized the potential of our rich heritage in newer forms.” Her ingenuity led her from crafting protective masks to fashioning intricately designed Sambalpuri rakhis. These rakhis have now evolved into a symbol of tradition and empowerment, creating a ripple effect that transcends mere threads and beads.

 

Sumitra’s endeavour didn’t just transform into a thriving business—it became a catalyst for change. She collaborated with a self-help group (SHG) associated with ORMAS, offering training and employment to women, thus supporting their livelihoods. Today, her Sambalpuri rakhis are not only sold across multiple districts of Odisha but have also reached states across the country, bringing the rich heritage of Sambalpuri handloom to a broader audience.

With her aspirations reaching new heights, Sumitra remains committed to the promotion of local crafts and the empowerment of artisans. Her story is a testament to the power of creativity and innovation in preserving traditions while fostering sustainable growth.

Flavoured Rakhis: A Savoury Twist to Tradition and Ecology

In another corner of the city, a couple’s imagination took an unexpected turn, giving rise to a new trend in Raksha Bandhan celebrations. Sushanta Kumar Sahoo and Anasuya, driven by a passion for the environment, embarked on a journey to craft unique, eco-friendly rakhis with a twist of flavour.

Their venture began during the lockdown in 2020, when Anasuya created a rakhi for their son using paper, colourful threads, and cotton buds. Shared on social media, the rakhi garnered attention, prompting requests from friends and relatives. Thus, a delightful journey of crafting rakhis using natural products commenced.

Infused with creativity, Sushanta and Anasuya crafted rakhis using an array of spices and seeds—pepper, fennel seeds, carom seeds, and more—to impart natural flavours. They embraced biodegradable materials like seeds, paddy straw, and wooden sticks to create intricate tree and flower designs. The result? Rakhis not only celebrate sibling bonds but also carry the promise of growth, as the seeds used in the rakhis can be planted to nurture new life.

Anasuya shares her thoughts: “In a world overwhelmed by plastic, our goal was to offer something eco-friendly, biodegradable, and truly sustainable. We envisioned a Rakhi that not only strengthens the bond between siblings but also strengthens our connection to nature.” Their vision came to life with their unique flavoured rakhis, meticulously crafted using seeds and spices, each carrying a promise of growth and renewal.

With each passing year, the couple’s innovative themes brought forth rakhis made from diverse seeds—paddy, ragi, black gram, sunflower, and more. The message they conveyed was clear. While celebrating relationships, they were silently sowing seeds of environmental awareness.

Their endeavour found resonance with a city-based voluntary organisation, Bakul Foundation, which introduced plantable seed rakhis. Made from organic cotton thread and embedded with seeds of various plants, these rakhis symbolize the growth of relationships intertwined with the growth of nature.

Terracotta Rakhis: Nurturing Tradition & Earth-friendly Celebrations

In the quaint villages of Kendrapada district, another innovative Rakhi trend took root. Around 120 women and girls from self-help groups in Jajanga, Palasingha, Teragon, and Baro villages embraced the art of terracotta crafting, offering a unique twist to this year’s Raksha Bandhan.

Traditionally skilled in crafting terracotta lamps, diyas, masks, and various other items, these artisans received training from the Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) to craft terracotta rakhis. Merging age-old tradition with contemporary demand, they painted these rakhis in vibrant colours, adding an attractive touch.

The eco-friendly terracotta rakhis quickly gained popularity for their unique appeal and biodegradability. These rakhis not only celebrate the bond between siblings but also embrace the essence of sustainability.

ORMAS’s initiatives to showcase and sell these terracotta rakhis extended to cities and towns beyond Kendrapada, gaining recognition even from e-commerce giants like Amazon and Flipkart. The demand for these rakhis skyrocketed, prompting the district administration to open a dedicated showroom.

Plantable Rakhis: Growing Tall With Seeds Of Love

Bhubaneswar-based Bakul Foundation is back with its call to gift plants in return for rakhis and use of plantable rakhis as well. These rakhis are green all the way right from the start as its produced from non-GM cotton grown by villagers in Chhindwara of Madhya Pradesh, hand-spun on charkhas by women in Wardha of Maharashtra, naturally dyed by artisans in Erode and then, made into bands by women in the village of Paradsinge in Madhya Pradesh. These rakhis produced by an enterprise called Beejpatra have seeds such as amaranthus, basil, purslane and beans in them and even embedded in the recycled paper on which they are tied. These rakhis and the attached paper if thrown away, decompose easily and plants sprout from them.

But one can buy the rakhi from here along with a gift plant (mango/medicinal/flowering) packed in jute or in a bamboo basket or in a ceramic pot. “We are not a gift shop selling rakhis. We are a movement for volunteerism, trying to demonstrate the power of individual contributions. We started the ‘My Tree Campaign’ to promote a personal relationship with trees and to re-establish the importance of trees in our culture through cultural practices. Hence, we focused on the gifting culture, and promoted the idea of gifting plants on any occasion. We decided to add rakhis to address the issue of pollution,” said founder of Bakul Foundation Sujit Mahapatra.

According to a research, 620 million rakhis are dumped in waste that never decomposes every year, generating 1.18 billion tonnes of carbon footprints.

Bakul Foundation has also appeal to school children to celebrate Raksha Bandhan in the form of Vriksha Bandhan and tie rakhis to trees at home, or in public spaces like roads and public parks.