Happy Rakhi
Picture this: It’s a rainy August morning. Ten-year-old me is swatting my sister away as she tries to tie a rakhi with one hand and guard the laddus with the other. I’m teasing her, she’s threatening to skip my share of sweets.
Fast forward to today. She’s in another country, we’re on a video call, and she’s “virtually” applying tilak to my forehead. Same sibling banter, different setting. That’s the beauty of Raksha Bandhan, a centuries-old festival that still works its magic, even over FaceTime.
From Palace Threads to Apartment Zoom Calls
Rakhi’s origin stories have traveled centuries, each one adding meaning to a simple thread:
Krishna & Draupadi: When Krishna injured his finger, Draupadi tore her sari to bandage him. He vowed to protect her always. The rakhi became a promise woven in compassion.
Rani Karnavati & Humayun: A queen sent a rakhi to a Mughal emperor asking for help. He treated it as a bond beyond politics or religion.
Tagore’s Rakhi Mahotsav: In 1905, Rabindranath Tagore turned Rakhi into a symbol of unity, urging Hindus and Muslims to tie threads to one another during the Partition of Bengal.
Across every version, Rakhi stands for connection, protection, trust, and care that outlast circumstances.
What Rakhi Means Today
Traditionally, a sister ties the rakhi, applies tilak, prays for her brother’s well-being. The brother promises protection and gives a gift.
But today, the meaning has expanded:
Mutual care: Sisters tie rakhis to sisters, brothers to brothers, friends to friends.
Chosen family: Cousins, neighbors, even colleagues step into sibling roles.
Protection redefined: It’s not just physical safety anymore. It’s emotional backup, financial advice, a late-night phone call.
In other words, Rakhi isn’t a gendered obligation. It’s a reminder of who’s in your corner.
Rakhi in the Digital Age
Distance has never stopped Rakhi:
E-rakhis & courier threads: Amazon, Etsy, even family WhatsApp groups are Rakhi delivery channels.
Virtual aarti: Siblings lighting diyas together on video calls, sweets at both ends.
Modern tokens: From Venmo “shagun” to surprise visits, gifts now range from digital to deeply personal.
The form changes. The feeling doesn’t.
Why We Still Pause for Rakhi
In the middle of work deadlines, carpools, and chat groups that never stop, Rakhi is our annual pause. A reminder that family isn’t just people you’re born with, it’s the people who tie you to the world with trust, loyalty, and love.
Threads of Love
So whether you’re tying a thread on a wrist in your kitchen, mailing one across continents, or planning a sibling FaceTime this Saturday, you’re keeping alive a tradition that has always been about connection.
Happy Raksha Bandhan! Today, take that pause. Share the laddus, swap the stories, and remember, those threads of love, real or virtual, are what keep us anchored in an ever-changing world.
Loved this? There’s more brewing every week. ☕