Swiggy Instamart Reports 300% Spike in Rakhi Orders for 2026

Raksha Bandhan gifting has evolved from traditional threads and boxes of sweets to high-value purchases including gold coin rakhis, smartwatches, and premium hampers. Swiggy Instamart’s Rakhi Trends 2026 report reveals a nearly 300% year-on-year growth in rakhi orders, reflecting a significant shift toward quick commerce for festive needs. Demand peaked on August 28 at 12:01 PM, when order volumes reached 857 rakhis per minute.

Category Growth and Top Performing Regions:
While traditional categories like chocolates and sweets saw 30% week-on-week growth, higher-value items recorded much sharper increases. Gift hampers grew by 85% week-on-week, smartwatch orders nearly doubled with a 99% surge, and premium designer rakhis surged by 130%. Among major metropolitan areas, Hyderabad recorded the highest volume of rakhi orders, followed by Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Gurgaon, Noida, Kolkata, Lucknow, Chennai, Bhubaneswar, and Vizag.

Consumer Shift Toward Precious Metals and Premium Designs:
Precious metals dominated customer preferences, led by silver and gold-plated convertible rakhi-to-pendant pieces, as well as 925 sterling silver Trishul and Surya motifs. Demand also increased for Lumba rakhis, traditionally presented to sisters-in-law, with Swarovski-studded variants occupying two of the top three spots in that sub-category.

Record-Breaking and High-Value Single Orders:

First Order: A Bengaluru user placed the season’s first order at 00:00:11 on August 21 for a Ganesha with Beads Rakhi.

Largest Quantity: A Mumbai customer purchased 118 rakhis in a single order on August 27.

Highest-Value Rakhi-Only Order: A Bengaluru buyer spent ₹10,995 on five 24KT gold coin rakhis.

Bulk Silver Purchase: A Gurgaon customer bought 20 premium silver rakhis in a single transaction totaling ₹10,780.

Most Diverse Cart: A Hyderabad shopper ordered 109 varied items ranging from children’s character bands to Swarovski lumbas and Rudrakshas totaling ₹9,790.

Largest Overall Hamper: A Gurgaon customer built a ₹14,630 cart containing gold coin rakhis, luxury skincare, artisanal chocolates, and plush toys.

Platform Strategy and Strategic Alignment:
This move toward higher-end purchases aligns with Switch, Instamart’s initiative aimed at offering higher-quality non-food and food options. The program targets consumers seeking premium, differentiated, and cleaner product choices for both daily needs and major festive events.