Cuttack: Personalised AI rakhis have emerged as the new game-changer this Raksha Bandhan, slowly elbowing out traditional threaded ones or even silver filigree work sporting traditional motifs.Lending a futuristic twist to the centuries-old craft, artisans in the twin cities have taken to crafting personalised silver rakhis flaunting AI-generated designs, which are fast becoming the latest fad.Right from intricate tarakasi motifs to digitally conceptualised patterns, jewellers and artisans are experimenting with designs that blend Cuttack’s heritage with technology. Some buyers are even bringing AI-generated images of motifs to artisans and asking them to turn the designs into wearable silver objets d’art.“The demand is not just for a silver rakhi. Young customers want something unique, personalised and Instagram-worthy. Many are showing us designs generated using AI and asking whether or not we can craft them in silver,” said Subash Lenka, a jeweller in Cuttack.“The designs range from minimalist silver bands to elaborate pieces resembling miniature pendants; prices are from Rs 800 to Rs 6000,” said Lenka.“Digital rakhis are surprisingly receiving good response, especially from Gen Z. Customers are asking for LED, QR code and personalised designs that look different from conventional rakhis,” said Bapu Sethi, a rakhi seller at Saheed Nagar in Bhubaneswar.“I wanted something beyond the usual thread rakhi this year. The digital rakhi with a personalised message looked trendy and meaningful, so I immediately picked one for my brother,” said Pinky Biswal, a college student who bought a digital rakhi at Nayapalli.Unlike conventional rakhis that are discarded after the festival, silver rakhis are being marketed as keepsakes and can be preserved as a token of the bond from the sibling. Lightweight versions are particularly popular among buyers who want the look of jewellery without making the rakhi look cumbersome or burning a hole in the pocket.“Earlier, silver rakhis were mostly bought as premium gifts. This year, the trend has moved towards customisation. Customers are asking for initials, names, family symbols and even futuristic patterns,” said Pupun Das, a silver filigree artisan from Bania Sahi in Cuttack.“AI is only helping us imagine new patterns. The craftsmanship is done entirely with our hands, blending technology and traditional skill. That is what sets these rakhis apart,” Das added.In Bhubaneswar, youngsters are lapping up digital rakhis, with a growing preference for tech-driven and personalised designs. Rakhis featuring LED lights, digital displays, QR codes, personalised messages and quirky electronic elements are luring buyers to look for something beyond the conventional thread.Retailers said the novelty factor, coupled with the option to personalise the message or design, has made digital rakhis one of the season’s fastest-moving products.The trend has prompted Cuttack’s famed filigree craftsmen to foray into a new creative avenue. Delicate silver wires, traditionally twisted and shaped by hand, are being combined with contemporary geometric and technology-inspired motifs. Across Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, retailers said enquiries for premium and personalised rakhis have risen manifold ahead of Raksha Bandhan.Artisans said most such rakhis had to be ordered around 15 days in advance, as the intricate handcrafted work requires considerable time and cannot be produced overnight. “These are not machine-made products; after finalising the AI design, our artisans have to manually translate it into silver, which takes several days,” said Das.
