From Tradition To Trend; 500-Year-Old Craft Makes A Comeback, Demand Jumps 50% After COVID

With a history spanning over five centuries, Khambhat’s agate stones are not only valued across India but are also recognised globally for their craftsmanship and natural hues. It has long been known for its traditional trades, but the agate stone business, passed down through generations, remains one of the city’s strongest identities.

Experts associate agate stones with astrology, numerology, tarot reading, and spiritual healing, believing they promote mental peace, positive energy, and healing effects.

This belief has significantly boosted demand for agate bracelets, necklaces, pyramids, photo frames, and decorative items. Their use has also increased in meditation, Vastu Shastra, and Reiki practices.

Historically, red agate stones were considered

auspicious in African and Gulf countries and were used during religious and social rituals. Even today, products crafted from Khambhat agate are exported worldwide, admired for their artistic finish and natural colours.

Sharing his experience, 42-year-old Janaksinh Kiransinh Solanki said that his family has been associated with the agate business for nearly 70 years. “Bracelets, necklaces, earrings, photo frames, and pyramids are currently in high demand,” he said.

“After COVID, the market for effect-based bracelets and pyrite products has grown by nearly 50%. Our monthly income now ranges between ₹40,000 and Rs 50,000,” he further explained.

The business continues to provide steady monthly income to families engaged in this trade for generations. Special products like Annapurna pyramids, made using different grains and copper wires, are believed to enhance prosperity when placed in kitchens.

Pyrite frames featuring Shri Yantras, mantras, and deity symbols are also in high demand. With different stones believed to produce different effects, the agate trade today stands as a powerful fusion of heritage craftsmanship and modern spiritual faith.