Rakshabandhan – A bond, a reaffirmation, a celebration, a connection

The day of the much-awaited Rakshabandhan is here. So to start let me wish you all, a very happy Rakshabandhan. Traditionally, it’s a day which celebrates the sacred bond between a brother and sister. Growing up, even in my school, there was this big celebration a day before Raksha Bandhan (since Rakshabandhan is a holiday), where all the girl students were asked to bring rakhis (a band or thread to tie on wrists) for all the boy students and boy students were asked to bring toffees to give to any girl who ties them rakhi, as a gesture of celebrating the bond. Although this built a brotherhood in the community, since I didn’t have a brother, most of the Raksha Bandhan holidays went moping and cursing God, why I don’t have a brother. I felt as if there was something missing in my life. There were these brothers and sisters celebrating, playing, posting pictures and being happy, on Raksha Bandhan. Even my parents have brothers and sisters and they would call each other and exchange pleasantries. 

Six years after I was born, my soul- sister was born and then four years after that my parents again gifted me a doll-like sister. I couldn’t imagine my life without them and somehow my childhood felt complete. Then we started our own tradition of tying rakhis to each other and exchanging gifts and enjoying rakshabandhan our own way. It is one of the best days of the year for me. 

Also, later on, I realized rakshabandhan is a celebration of people who take care of us and protect us. Yes, traditionally it’s about brothers and sisters, but why not instill this sentiment in our present generation, to celebrate this day with people they love, who protect them, who they care for. Do the traditional stuff but there is no harm in making your own new traditions that give meaning to this festival. I tie rakhi to my papa, my mum, and my sisters because they have protected me and cared for me when even I couldn’t.

Let’s reaffirm each other, the support we have and are ready to provide so that no one feels lonely on this rakshabandhan or any day of the year. Let’s bring changes and be traditional as well because that’s what makes us Indians different from rest of the world. Also, a very happy independence day to you all. As youth, let’s take the society forward with love and respect for each other. 

I would like to present this idea to all of you out there. Let’s spread the sentiment of harmony and brotherhood in our community on this rakshabandhan. Maybe a brother could tie a rakhi to his brother, or a sister to her sister or a brother to his sister, or to the gatekeeper who wards off and takes care of people coming in your building or the rickshawala who drops you to your metro station safely or the autowala who sees if you get in to your house safely or not. Why not raise the bar and spread joy everywhere. Why be limited just to family, why not spread this love into the community?