Ludhiana: Post offices across Ludhiana district have completely sold out of their special Raksha Bandhan envelopes following strong demand, exceeding last year’s sales figures.A total of 8,500 rakhi envelopes were sold in the run-up to the Aug 28 festival, surpassing last year’s total of 8,000. With the dedicated stock fully exhausted several days ahead of the festival, postal officials switched to issuing standard envelopes to meet ongoing customer demand.The special envelopes saw heavy usage among residents sending rakhis domestically and internationally. Available in two price points, around 6,000 envelopes were sold at ₹15, while nearly 2,500 were purchased in the ₹20 category. In addition, the department sold approximately 500 laminated boxes priced at ₹50 each for shipping sweets alongside Rakhis.Popularity was driven by the envelopes’ lightweight, waterproof design, which protects contents from monsoon moisture during transit while minimising international airmail weight. Customers routinely begin mailing rakhis overseas as early as June and July.To encourage seasonal dispatches, the postal department introduced a 10% discount on postage for rakhi consignments, valid for about 15 days prior to the festival—a feature officials plan to continue in future years.Residents noted that the protective design offered a practical packaging choice. Reena, a local resident, shared that she bought her envelopes early to secure them for her brothers, while Rattan Lal called the waterproof, lightweight options the most cost-effective and convenient choice on the market.
