A festival
that comes across each year, around this time is Raksha Bandhan.
The festival
where the brothers promise to forever protect and take care of their sisters,
and the sisters, thank them for the same. It’s the time where the brother-sister
duo is glorified and is an age old tradition.
This
festival is specially marked by the band called “ Rakhi” that the sisters tie
around their brother’s wrist, symbolizing some promises and love for one
another. However, this Rakhi, lets take a look at things a little differently.
The
tradition, when was set in stone, years back, deep rooted the sense of
protection the brothers have towards their sisters. However in today’s time,
the same has evolved significantly. It is felt today that the festival holds a
meaning much greater than what it used to. Today, the festival is all about
spreading joy to your siblings.
As human
beings mature, the relationships in their life mature with them, and thus we feel, so should such customs and the meaning they hold.
During childhood, when
all that kids do, is fight at every petty issue the band of Rakhi symbolize the
promise of forgiving one another easily and trying to argue less. During the
teenage years the band symbolize the gratefulness shared by the two for
saving each other from the wrath of the parents. Before the 30s it was a
remembrance of the times that the two partied together and had each other’s
back when the curfew was broken. And later on it holds the sense of love and
togetherness felt by the two, even though they are separated by miles and
miles.
However, one
thing that would wake up the most isolated corner of our brain is that even though the original meaning of
the tradition is extremely beautiful and touching, its interpretation should
change. The word “protect” must not be taken literally. In today’s time, the
brothers should be able to provide protection to the sisters, by supporting
them to live life on their own terms, in their own ways, and reminding them
that they have their back. By not being over protective about them, letting
them go and achieve it all. By not questioning their decisions and truly
supporting them to lead an independent life.
So this Rakhi,
amongst other things that we decide to celebrate and be grateful for, let’s
make sure to promise our sisters support, empowerment and most importantly love!!
Written by: Neeti Oberoi
Comments
Post a Comment