Statue of Unity: Local youth rakhis on sale at 3 Ekta Nagar spots
Synopsis
Ahead of Raksha Bandhan, young trainees at the Ekta Skill Development Centre in Ekta Nagar are turning their craft skills into commerce — selling handmade rakhis at three Statue of Unity tourist spots. It is a small but telling example of how India's largest tourism anchors are being used to seed local livelihoods, not just footfall numbers.
Key Takeaways
Trainees of the Ekta Skill Development Centre will sell handmade rakhis at three locations in the Statue of Unity area, Ekta Nagar .
The SoU Bus Bay Area stall runs from 22–28 August ; the Shrestha Bharat Bhavan Parking Area stall from 25–28 August ; and the Administrative Complex stall from 25–26 August .
Rakhis were prepared during a special workshop ahead of Raksha Bandhan on 28 August .
The centre operates under the guidance of SoUADTGA and runs short-term skill programmes for local youth.
The initiative aims to link skill training directly to employment and self-employment opportunities tied to the area's tourism economy.
Rakhis crafted by local youth enrolled in skill development training will go on sale at three locations in the Statue of Unity area in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, starting 22 August, ahead of Raksha Bandhan on 28 August. The initiative gives trainees of the Ekta Skill Development Centre a direct commercial platform to showcase and monetise the skills they have acquired through structured programmes.
Where and When the Stalls Will Operate
The first stall is set up at the Statue of Unity (SoU) Bus Bay Area, running from 22 August to 28 August. A second stall will be operational at the Shrestha Bharat Bhavan Parking Area from 25 August to 28 August. The third stall, at the Administrative Complex in Ekta Nagar, will function from 25 August to 26 August.
The Workshop Behind the Rakhis
Trainees participated in a special Raksha Bandhan workshop organised by the Ekta Skill Development Centre to prepare rakhis in a variety of designs. The workshop was designed to encourage creativity and give participants a practical application for their training. Visitors to the Statue of Unity area will be able to purchase the trainee-made rakhis directly from the stalls.
The Broader Skill-to-Livelihood Push
The Ekta Skill Development Centre runs multiple short-term skill programmes for local youth, with support from the Statue of Unity Area Development and Tourism Governance Authority (SoUADTGA). The centre regularly links its workshops to festivals and seasonal occasions to blend skill-building with creative expression and market exposure.
Notably, the initiative reflects a deliberate strategy by authorities to connect Ekta Nagar's growing tourism economy — anchored by the world's tallest statue — with livelihood opportunities for the surrounding local communities. The Statue of Unity draws visitors from across India and abroad, making its footfall a ready-made marketplace for locally produced goods.
Employment and Self-Reliance at the Core
Authorities have framed the rakhi sale as more than a seasonal activity. The goal, according to officials, is to build a repeatable model where skill training translates into tangible employment and self-employment outcomes for youth in the region. Festival-linked workshops are one mechanism the centre uses to keep trainees engaged and market-ready throughout the year.
With Raksha Bandhan approaching, the stalls are expected to attract both domestic tourists and local buyers, offering trainees real-world selling experience alongside a revenue opportunity.
Point of View
Or does it remain an enclave economy? The SoUADTGA model of embedding skill centres within a high-footfall tourism zone is worth watching — festival workshops that produce saleable goods are more credible than training programmes that end with a certificate. The real metric is whether trainees convert this platform into sustained income, not just a seasonal display. If the model scales, it could offer a replicable template for other major tourism corridors across India.
NationPress
23 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where will the youth-made rakhis be sold at the Statue of Unity?
Rakhis will be sold at three locations: the Statue of Unity Bus Bay Area from 22–28 August, the Shrestha Bharat Bhavan Parking Area from 25–28 August, and the Administrative Complex in Ekta Nagar from 25–26 August.
Who made the rakhis being sold at the Statue of Unity?
The rakhis were made by local youth enrolled in training programmes at the Ekta Skill Development Centre in Ekta Nagar, as part of a special Raksha Bandhan workshop.
What is the Ekta Skill Development Centre?
The Ekta Skill Development Centre is a training facility in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, that runs short-term skill development programmes for local youth. It operates with support from the Statue of Unity Area Development and Tourism Governance Authority (SoUADTGA) and aims to link skill training with employment and self-employment opportunities.
Why is the rakhi sale being held at the Statue of Unity area?
The Statue of Unity is a major tourism destination drawing visitors from across India and abroad, making it an ideal marketplace for locally produced goods. Authorities are using the area's tourist footfall to give skill-trained youth a direct commercial platform.
When is Raksha Bandhan 2025 and how does this initiative connect to it?
Raksha Bandhan falls on 28 August this year. The Ekta Skill Development Centre organised a special workshop ahead of the festival, where trainees prepared rakhis in various designs to sell to visitors, linking the seasonal occasion to a practical livelihood opportunity.
