Rakhi - a sweet celebration of love between brothers and sisters

The relationship between a brother and a sister is a sacred one which is unconditional. It lasts for a life time surpassing the barriers of space and time. It is such a relationship which doesn't require any excuse to corroborate the mutual love and affection for each other. Being involved in the hustle and bustle of life we often lose touch with our near and dear ones. Physical detachment often leads to emotional frigidness so we need special days within the year to relive the old magic,the emotional chemistry that exists between any human relationship.The chaste bond between siblings is not free from this syndrome.

Raksha Bandhan is that festival  which celebrates this perennial bond between a brother and a sister. Every year Shravan Purnima, better known as Rakhi Purnima is celebrated as rakhi day. It is essentially about strengthening the sacred bond between a brother and a sister fostering brotherhood. Chanting sacred mantras,the sister ties the sacred thread of Rakhi on her brother's wrist which in many ways is like an amulet protecting the brother from all evils, believed to auger luck and prosperity for him. The brother also takes the solemn pledge of love,affection and support for the sister. Thus, rakhi in india is celebrated in the typical Indian spirit with the traditional rituals and customs but it is much more than the age-old practices. For a sister or a brother it carries a lot of emotional baggage,especially for those who are geographically separated from each other. For people living abroad, not only miss out on the festivity of  Rakhi but also feel the emotional alienation in a foreign land.  For them it is a strong feeling of nostalgia, mixed with a sense of longing for their beloved brothers and sisters.After all, it is one day, in the year when every brother or sister wants to be with his beloved sibling(s).

Back home in India,Rakhi is celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm. Like any celebration, commercial exchange play an integral part of it. Especially in North and North-West India it creates a euphoria among people irrespective of class and caste. Like any other festival, Rakhi celebration is incomplete without the right gifts. The markets galore with gift items, ranging from the eternal chocolates,perfumes,hampers to the modern electronic gadgets, disappear from the market like hot cake.  Brothers and sisters belonging to a tender age, choose the best gifts for their dearest siblings with the money they save for this particular occasion through out the year.    


With the advent of Internet and the online gift-store, sending rakhi to india has become much more convenient. These days when the internet has crossed all barriers of time and space how can Rakhi stay away from this phenomenon. Online Rakhis, rakhi thalis, rakhi hampers are the in-things for the sisters living abroad.

With the rapid commercialization the celebration of rakhi in india has undergone a distinct change leading to more and more market oriented festivity.Technology also plays a major role in bringing people together. But the essential spirit of cordiality and selfless devotion that constitute the immortal bond between a brother and a sister is very much the same through generations.As long as this sacred bond will remain intact, rakhi day will always have its importance not just in India but all over the world among the Indian diaspora.