Once largely confined to spiritual use among Indians, Rudraksha seeds are now gaining popularity in Switzerland, with rising demand from both the diaspora and local Swiss, an official said.
“It is a niche market now, set to be solidified by the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), which comes into force from October 1,” an official said.
India and the four European nations bloc, EFTA (European Free Trade Association), signed the agreement on March 10, 2024.
In 2024-25, India exported the commodity worth Rs 0.97 crore.
“While Switzerland’s Indian diaspora of over 27,000 people provides a foundational market for these seeds, the primary driver is a burgeoning wellness and mindfulness movement among the broader Swiss population,” the official said.
Swiss online retailers and yoga shops now market Rudraksha malas (prayer beads) not just as religious items, but as tools for a secular kind of spirituality.
A Zurich-based online yoga store sells a simple Rudraksha
