Three generational Shree Rakhi from Kolkata has been selling Rakhis for over 65 years

The great Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore started the tradition of tying Rakhi as a symbol of brotherhood during the nationalist movement. Tagore called people in Kolkata to come together and tie Rakhi to neighbours and common people to give a message of harmony. Hence, the festival of Raksha Bandhan started in Kolkata. The tradition is to date followed and some people are playing a crucial part in it. One of them is Shree Rakhi, who has been one of the oldest and biggest Rakhi manufacturers in the city. 

The beginnings

This shop, now a popular spot in the Satnarayan A.C. Market in Bara Bazar, was once started as a home business to make ends meet. Murli Dharji Mohta, a regular job goer started a seasonal business of selling rakhis which were made by his wife in 1962. Slowly and gradually the business was carried forward by the next generation of the family. In 1972, Jiwan Das Mohta, Murli's son along with his uncle started streamlining the business. He gave the branding to Shree Rakhis and built a name for it. 

The Present Day

Today, the business is managed by Kamal Kishore Soni who is the third-generation director of Shree Rakhi. A venture that was started as a household business now sells rakhi in most of the cities in India. Their footprint also expands to countries like the UK, the US, Australia, Fiji and Mauritius. They mostly deal with wholesale businesses and suppliers as they work with bulk quantities. 

With basic and traditional designs like the Avyaan, Dori and Lumba Rakhi, they also give a touch of modern designs with terracotta, stone chain, and kids' rakhi in various cartoon characters. They even collaborate with the artisans to make handicraft rakhis. With this variety and business stewardship of 65-plus years, Shree Rakhi has made a name for itself in the Rakhi manufacturing industry. So much so that they claim to sell 2.5 crore rakhis in a single year to India and to outside countries. This truly makes this generational business with a humble beginning a reputed brand today.