Nagpur: From siblings hunting for the right thread to last-minute shoppers picking up sweets and gifts, markets were abuzz on Thursday as Nagpurians made a dash ahead of Rakshabandhan. Amid the rush, traders say that crowded markets no longer necessarily mean bumper sales for them, as e-commerce is steadily taking a slice of the festive business.Rakhi stalls across major shopping areas witnessed a steady stream of customers through the day, with the rush increasing by evening. Counters were decked with everything from simple traditional threads and beaded rakhis to elaborate designer varieties and colourful options for children. Sweet shops and gift stores, too, saw customers queue up for last-minute purchases.“This is the main day for us. Shoppers generally wait until the day before Rakshabandhan, so the rush has been good since afternoon,” said Shashi Karikar, a seasonal rakhi vendor in Mahal. “Compared to a few years ago, sales are slightly lower. A lot of people now tell us they have already ordered some rakhis or gifts online,” Karikar said.The change is particularly visible in gifting. From chocolates and dry fruits to personalised presents and other festive hampers, shoppers can now get much of their Rakshabandhan shopping delivered home through e-commerce platforms.For customers pressed for time, that convenience is difficult to ignore. “I ordered the gift online because I knew exactly what I wanted. It was easier,” said Trisha, a 17-year-old shopper browsing through a rakhi stall. “But for the rakhi, I wanted to come to the market. You can see all the designs, compare them and choose something yourself. That still feels more personal,” she added.That mix of online convenience and traditional shopping appears to be shaping this year’s festive buying. While some customers arrived only for rakhis after ordering gifts online, others moved between stalls, sweet shops and gift stores to complete their shopping in one outing.Traders said the online shift has not emptied markets, but has divided the festive spending. “There is festive mood, but some things are bought online and the remaining in the market,” said Manish Nasre, a rakhi and gift vendor.
