All over India, people celebrated Raksha Bandhan today. It
is a special day where the relationship between a brother and sister is
celebrated. The sister ties a thread, Rakhi, to her brother’s wrist to symbolize her
love and gratitude for always protecting her. It is a small gesture that brothers and sisters alike, look forward to. Sisters are gifted
something special in return from the brothers for the rakhi they receive - money, clothes and the latest trend thanks to Cadbury's marketing efforts - chocolates.
Boys and men, walked
around proudly with bracelets around their wrists throughout the day today. There’s
a great variety in the rakhis as well – there are rakhi’s with a lot of bling while
others which are a bit more subdued & simple. I did feel immensely guilty
for sending virtual rakhi’s to my brothers this year…but then I convinced
myself that there’s a perk - they’ll have them all year round!
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| Rakhi Thali - for the Rakhi ceremony |
Undeniably, there was something special in the air all
morning. Bhabiji, my neighbor, was elated all night with the possibility of her
brother showing up to surprise her. Sure enough, after a long overnight journey,
he showed up this morning to get his rakhi tied. The day was filled with the
sound of prayers from poojas, reminisces of the tikkas on everyone’s foreheads from
the morning ceremonies and of course the never ending food!
I thought about our ancestors and why they created so many
festivals throughout the year. I concluded that perhaps it was a way to encourage people
to stop, pause and reflect. To cherish the special relationships in their lives
and ensure they get celebrated at least once a year if not all year round. It
refreshes the soul to connect with loved ones, to sit down to a special meal
and share a few memories and laughs. Even though I am miles away from my
brothers, the occasion gave me a reason to call them and write them. Yes, of
course, life goes right back to normal, but days like Raksha Bandhan allow
people to share happiness within their communities and connect. Our ancestors
were brilliant – forcing us to take a break from the daily routine and instead pay
attention to what matters the most - people. By celebrating each relationship, those
created by birth and others through shared experience, we foster these
relationships. Each in its own right is beautiful if we pause to notice. These festivals enable us to put aside our
worries & differences -instead focus on sharing our joy & happiness.
As I type this – Bhabiji walks by, in one swift motion force
feeds me a Rasgulla - even before I can
tell what it is. No matter what the occasion, these celebrations make days like
today worth cherishing…all because of the delicate relationships they
represent & foster.
