Raksha Bandhan 2025: A walk through Mumbai’s popular rakhi markets

With the arrival of August Mumbai comes alive with the festive spirit Starting with Raksha Bandhan on August 9 the month is full of occasions for people to get together and celebrate Amid the preparations it is no surprise that the local markets in the city are already immersed in festivities with Mumbaikars browsing the streets for rakhis gifts deacutecor items and other essentialsShops in various markets of Mumbai are currently adorned with rakhis ndash the vibrant threads that embody the essence of the festival From traditional motifs to trending designs you will be able to spot every kind of rakhi in the city if you know where to lookHeres your complete guide to some of the most popular rakhi markets in the city which feature both wholesale and retail rakhi shopsDadar rakhi marketIs any festive shopping complete without a visit to Dadar market From flowers to deacutecor items the market central to almost every part of the city has it all It is one of the best destinations in Mumbai to buy rakhisNear Dadar station the Ranade Road market is home to several shops that feature a wide variety of rakhis From traditional rakhi designs to those that reflect the trends of the modern world therersquos something for everyoneOne of the most unique ones that we spotted is the Labubu Doll rakhi With the collectible trending you may just be convinced to buy it among other attentiongrabbing and trending designs One can find other innovative rakhis tooOne can find the trending Labubu Doll rakhis at Dadar marketWhere Ranade Road Market Dadar WestHow to reach Walk from Dadar stationUniqueness Innovative designs like Labubu dolls bracelet rakhis camera rakhi that doubles as a key chain etcPrice range Rs 10 to Rs 200Bhuleshwar rakhi marketTucked away in the narrow lanes of South Mumbais Bhuleshwar market is a vibrant world of rakhis that is steeped in culture and tradition Here you will find rakhis created by traditional rakhi makers from the Patwa communityPatwa rakhis are known for their intricate threadwork and beadwork and that is instantly visible as we explore the market which houses varied collections of traditional rakhi designs From rakhis that bear the fragrance of chandan sandalwood to the ones that feature unique bead combinations one will be spoilt for choice while browsing through the designsMost rakhis at Bhuleshwar market are created by traditional rakhi makers from the Patwa communityBhuleshwar rakhi market is primarily a wholesale market and several vendors across Mumbai buy their stock of rakhis from here However you may also find a few retail shopsWhere 1st2nd3rd Bhoiwada Lane Bhuleshwar Marine Lines EastHow to reach Take a kaalipeeli taxi from Charni Road station or Marine Lines station Western Line or CSMT Central Line You may have to walk if the taxi driver drops you a bit away from the destination because of the market areaUniqueness Wide variety of traditional Patwa rakhisPrice range Rs 10 to Rs 200 retailMalad rakhi marketIf you are looking for a market in the western suburbs one location that you can explore is the Malad West station market While the locals tell us that there are comparatively fewer rakhi shops here than previous years you will still find several options to choose fromThere are some wholesale as well as retail shops here One of the most distinctive features that we spotted are the wide range of lsquoBhaiBhabhirsquo rakhis From colourful combos to individual rakhis and rakhi braceletskadas banglesfor women one can explore different optionsAt Malad market one can find different options of rakhisrakhi bracelets for sistersinlawSome of the rakhis also include small packets of lsquoroli vermillionrsquo and lsquochawal ricersquo which are especially helpful if you want to courier the rakhi elsewhere Here you will also find diverse options for childrenrsquos rakhis ranging from cartoons to superhero charactersWhere Near The Mall Malad West station roadHow to reach Walk from Malad stationUniqueness Wide range of lsquoBhaiBhabhirsquo rakhis and unique packagingPrice range Rs 10 to Rs 450If you already havent bought your rakhi this guide will help you explore different kinds of designs without any challenges