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These rakhis carry seeds that sprout into plants, are crafted in beautiful designs by 300 rural women, and cut out plastic waste from our festivals.
In a small workshop in Paradsinga, Madhya Pradesh, a group of women sit cross-legged on the floor, their fingers moving swiftly through colourful threads. The cotton feels soft, dyed in warm shades of turmeric yellow and indigo blue. Bowls of natural dyes — made from flowers and plants — rest in one corner. Laughter fills the room as someone gently slips tiny seeds into a rakhi’s tassels.
At the centre of the group is Geeta Keskar (47), guiding a team of 16 women. Every rakhi they make carries something extraordinary — basil, spinach, and amaranthus seeds waiting to sprout after the festival is over.
For Geeta, these threads mark a turning point in her life. “Earlier, I had to think twice before buying anything for myself. Now, I earn my own money,” she says, her voice steady with pride.
For 300 women across 14 villages, this work means income, choice, and stability. For you, it’s a way to make Raksha Bandhan more meaningful — while caring for the earth and the people who make your traditions possible.
What makes these rakhis special
Most rakhis in shops today are made of plastic. They shine for a day, then end up in landfills. These rakhis take a different path:
- Handspun from desi cotton on traditional charkhas
- Dyed with colours made from turmeric, marigold, and indigo
- Embedded with real seeds that can grow into herbs and vegetables
- Packed in seed paper that can also be planted
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When you order one, you help rural women bring security and dignity into their homes. It’s eco-friendly, and after the festival, it grows into life!
What happens after the festival
Every year, millions of rakhis are discarded after a single day. But what if yours could continue to grow — just like your bond?
With a seed rakhi, the festival doesn’t end when the sweets are finished. It becomes a living memory.
Here’s how to turn your rakhi into a plant
- After Raksha Bandhan, cut the tassels from the rakhi.
- Fill a small pot with loose, well-drained soil.
- Place the tassels with seeds gently on the surface and cover with one to two centimetres of soil.
- Water lightly — the soil should stay moist but not soggy.
- Keep the pot in indirect sunlight.
- In about seven to 10 days, watch for green shoots to emerge.
Something so small, yet it carries your promise far beyond the festival.
The story behind every thread
Your rakhi begins in Vidarbha, where farmers grow indigenous cotton instead of genetically modified crops. From there, it moves to community workshops where women spin yarn, prepare natural dyes, and weave bright patterns.
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For women like Geeta, this work changes more than their finances — it changes their sense of self. “We decide the colours. We choose the patterns. We create something of our own,” she says.
What started nine years ago as a small experiment now sustains hundreds of families while keeping harmful plastic out of the environment.
Why this choice matters
When you pick a seed rakhi, you:
- Give rural women a chance to earn and live with dignity
- Keep harmful plastic out of landfills
- Turn a tradition into a living memory, rooted in the soil
Raksha Bandhan is built on care. This year, let that care reach beyond the wrist — into homes, soil, and futures.
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Want to know what goes into making a rakhi that grows into life? Read the full story here.