Bengaluru: Rakshabandhan, a festival to celebrates the bond of love between brother and sister, was celebrated with traditional fervour on Monday with youngsters taking the lead to tie the rakhi on their dear ones.
The festival has its roots in the Puranas and what sets it apart is the fact that it is more personal rather than ceremonial.
Students and office going youngsters performed the ritual as they do every year with colourful rachis adorning the wrists of most people who celebrate the festival.
"My elder sister tied a rakhi on me, I am going to meet three others who are not my relatives but who are eager to celebrate Rakshabandhan with me. I don't believe that the special ties between a brother and sister should be restricted to this day, in fact it should be celebrated every day. But then, it is no doubt a special occasion, so they tied the thread and I bought them chocolates," said Nitin, who recently completed his post-graduation. Ask him what it means to him and he says,"
It is just an unsaid, indescribable feeling for someone who you feel is your sister. It could be your sibling or a friend in college. You feel the need to look after them and they feel they need to take care of you." Bengaloreans despite the Monday blues, heavy traffic and their hectic work style, took time out to tie the symbolic thread and exchange gifts with their siblings. " From the time we were kids, Rakshabandhan was an important occasion for me and my brother. Even when we were in different cities, I would send rakhis by post.
The festival is not about gifts, nor about a brother protecting his sister. It is a way of showing that we are there for each other, " said Jyotsna, a techie. Commercial Street, Jayanagar shopping complex and every other corner of the city had vendors displaying thousands of rakhis. Jyotsna is one of the few who feels buying one takes away the charm of Rakshabandhan and takes the pain to make one with a lot of care for her brother every year.
