Rakhi Festival in New Delhi

Just as it celebrates all other festival with zeal and pomp, Capital city of New Delhi celebrates Raksha Bandhan with much enthusiasm, pomp and gaiety. One can wi tness huge euphoria for Rakhi days before the occasion. Markets go abuzz with activity and excitement fills the very air of Saddi Dilli.

A Day Before Raksha Bandhan in Delhi
Greatest activity for Raksha Bandhan can be witnessed a day before actual festival day. Market places, mainly Chandni Chowk, Lajpat Nagar, Kamla Nagar and Karol Bagh appear at their colorful best as siblings indulge in the last minute shopping for the occasion. Purchasing for Rakhi continues till midnight and begin afresh in the early hours of Rakhi day.

Shopping for Rakhi Sweets
As a custom, sisters' present a box of Rakhi sweets along with the traditional Rakhi Thread to their brothers on Raksha Bandhan. Long queues could be seen in Mithai shops all over the capital and especially in Delhi's famous Mithai Shops. Thefamous Ghantewala Halwai in Chandni Chowk, besides the famous mithai shops in Bengali Market witness a mad rush of shoppers on the eve of Rakhi.

Rush for Mehandi
There is huge fad amongst Delhi girls to get their hands adorned with traditional Mehandi patterns. To cash on this frenzy Delhi has good number of mehandi artists who occupy the possible nooks and corners of market places and cater to demands of the chirpy females for a huge fee. The cross road in the Kamla Nagar, the Central Market of Lajpat Nagar particularly see a bee line of girls patiently waiting for their turn of mehandi.

Rakhi in Prime Minister's House
Raksha Bandhan is customarily celebrated with festive grace in the Prime Minister's House. Here children tie Rakhi on the wrist of their Prime Minister. In this scenario Rakhi assumes a significantly different meaning. When they tie Raksha, children seek protection and care from their Prime Minister. Physically challenged and differently-abled children also participate in Rakhi celebrations in PM house.

Traffic Rush in Delhi
As a tradition, sisters' make a visit to their brother's home on a Rakhi day. One can observe ladies dressed in traditional Indian costumes like Saree or Salwar Suits and adorned with heavy jewellery making a visit to their brothers home with colorfully dressed children. So even though Raksha Bandhan is a holiday in Delhi, the city witnesses massive traffic jams in the city. Besides an increased number of private vehicles on roads one can see unusual rush in buses, metro trains and other means of public transport. While morning hours see a rush of sisters eager to tie Rakhi on their brother's wrist, evening hours see a traffic of siblings looking forward to celebrate the day by eating out, watching movies or having fun in parks. Thus whatever be the time, Delhi roads are abuzz with sounds of honking horns on a Rakhi Day.

Rakhi Celebrations in New Delhi
Delhi outshines rest of India when it comes to Raksha Bandhan celebrations! There are celebrations all round the city at a euphoric level. Be it the people in echelons of power, the inmates of the much talked about Tihar Jail, the city's high profile glitterati or the Generation X crowd of Delhi University Rakhi is celebrated by all, with faith and with traditional gaiety. City's cosmopolitan nature adds more colors and joy to the festival as people of various communities who have made Delhi their home celebrate the occasion in their own unique style and customs. But inspite of the coexistence of different set of Raksha Bandhan rituals, Delhiites have managed to create a tradition which is very special and unique to Delhi.