Editor’s Note
**Editor’s Note:** This piece captures the vibrant market buzz in Rishikesh as the month of Sawan begins, highlighting a notable shift in bangle trends driven by social media virality.
With the onset of the month of Sawan, the markets of the pilgrimage city of Rishikesh have been adorned with green bangles. This year, there is a special craze among women and young girls for Kashmiri Ghungroo, plain jelly green, and zircon bangles.
The demand for these designs has surged significantly due to their virality on social media. This trend is also impacting the sales of traditional metal and other bangles.
Traders have stocked up sufficiently in anticipation of Sawan, Teej, and Raksha Bandhan festivals. The combination of Kashmiri Ghungroo bangles and transparent jelly glass bangles is currently the most preferred style.
Due to the rising demand for these bangles, sales of metal and other traditional bangles have dropped by nearly 90 percent.
New design jelly and zircon bangles are selling for 180 to 200 rupees per pair. The price of Kashmiri Ghungroo bangles has also decreased. A pair that previously cost 180 rupees is now available for around 100 rupees.
Tourists Riya and Mandavi, who came to Rishikesh from Delhi, also purchased Kashmiri zircon green bangles. Traders believe that if demand continues at this pace, prices of these bangles may increase until the upcoming Karwa Chauth festival.