How to Celebrate Rakhi

The clock struck 8 o’clock. She woke up with numerous thoughts in mind. She quickly bid her laziness and sleep farewell and prepared herself for the day. How could she not adorn the house with trinket decorations and cook his favorite dish? She picked her neatly folded dress, removed the newspaper that lay in between the layers and put on her one and only perfume.

You must be thinking who we are referring about here. Well, we are referring to a relationship that witnesses the most love, sacrifice and commitment between two people. We are talking about a Sister-Brother relationship. It is one of the most pure, sincere, and heartfelt bond that two people share. But why are we talking about Brothers and Sisters and their sweet bond?

Raksha Bandhan, also known as “Rakhi” is round the corner. It is one of the most celebrated, happy, and joyous festivals in India and this year, it falls due on 15th of August, 2019. Coincidently, this year, it shall be celebrated with the Indian Independence Day, a great milestone in the history of India. This festival is one that celebrates victory over evil; a promise lived through and of course, the relationship between a brother and sister.

“Rakhi” originally is a red thread that a sister ties on her brother’s wrist as a gesture of protection and faith. Preparations of this particular festival begin beforehand. While the sister ties a Rakhi to her brother, the gentleman in exchange promise to protect her from any harm or danger. This promise is made through a token of love or what we call gifts. A minimal yet chaste festival as such has numerous ways in which it can be celebrated in. Let us look at a very typical and traditional fashion in which Rakhi is celebrated throughout India.

It is often gathered that a sister visits her brother on Rakhi. She carries a beautiful plate (Known as “Thali”) which has a Rakhi, some rice, a red colored powder called “Kumkum”, and some sweets to go with it. The Rakhi can be a simple thread or a fancy one, depending upon the budget. Kumkum and rice are used to draw a “Tilak” on the brother’s forehead. Typically “Ladoos” are used on this occasion but with changing trends, Barfees or Chocolates or Cakes can also be used.

The sister dresses in traditional attire, prepares her Thali and sets on a journey to her brother’s. She either wears a saree or a suit-piece depending on her choice and comfort of clothing. The brother on the other hand wears a loose long shirt called “Kurta” with pants. In certain communities it is believed that the sister cannot eat anything before she ties the Rakhi and that the Rakhi must be tied on a particular time according to the Mahurat (Auspicious time) as suggested by the priest or the Hindu calendar.

Everyone gathers at one place to enjoy the happy festival and cherish the precious moments spent together. In case the brother and sister do not live in the same city or country, the sister sends her beloved brother her thread of blessings and happiness to her brother. In such cases, the sister sends her Rakhi well in advance so that he can tie it round his wrist on the festival.


Generally with such a courier goes a box of sweets or chocolates in order to mark the felicity of the occasion for both; brother and sister. With the world becoming a technological village, staying close to each other has never been as easier. People connect through various internet video chats and celebrate the festival with each other despite being away. What matters is the love and care between two people who love and respect each other in the most austere manner possible. Through Rakhi, the bond strengthens and gets deeper for it is the thought that counts and not how expensive the gifts.

But, how does the ceremony take place and what all is done in the process? The ceremony starts with a sister covering her head with her dupatta or a piece of cloth to honor the ceremony. She then draws a tilak of kumkum and rice on her brother’s forehead and chants prayers for his well-being and happiness. She ties him the Rakhi on his right hand’s wrist and offers him sweets to eat. In return that brother dutifully returns the favor by giving her a gift or money as a sign of promise to always protect her and keep her safe.

Those with a brother as a sibling can thoroughly enjoy this festival. What about those who do not have a brother as a sibling? Well, nowadays girls tie the Rakhi to cousins, close friends or even their fathers to honor the tradition and create a beautiful bond.

Nonetheless, let us do a quick recap on the checklist of Rakhi and see if we are missing out on something important or intricate.

Fashionista or Fashion Faux-Pas? What to wear, what not to wear? Whether it is a brother or a sister, dressing up for this occasion is a must. While men may choose a typical Kurta-Pyjama for the day, women either choose a pseudo saree or a lehenga-choli or a subtle Kurti with tights. The traditional attires brings in a feeling of togetherness and instills a certain cultural connect in the aura. Wearing a jeans or t-shirt might not be the best of ideas but then again, it is subjective.

High-heels or Flats? Well, once you’ve decided what to wear, now comes the time to match your accessories to your outfit. While for men it is always shoes or a pair of flip-flops to go with, women have a list of footwear to choose from. You could either rock your look with a pair of flat kolhapuris or a pair of sleek stellatos. Make sure your footwear is comfortable and does not leave shoe bites.

Rakhi Thread: A capacious range of Rakhi threads start to pour in well in advanced of the festival. One can see plain Rakhis, Thread Rakhis, Cartoon Rakhis, Gods or Goddesses Idols Rakhi, Designer Rakhi, Diamond Rakhi, Pearl Rakhi, and many others. Rakhis can be bought online too. With a variety of Rakhis to choose from, pick an ideal one for your brother according to his age, choice, and preference. Once you decide what you wish to send, just add the item to your cart and you are good to go.

A Rakhi Thali: Rakhi thalis are a combination of perfection and art. Creative ideas on how to adorn your Rakhi thalis can be adapted and a beautiful, wholesome and elegant thali can be made. This thali would typically have of course a Rakhi thread. Along with it, some rice, kumkum, a small diya, a small Ganesha idol (It is believed that placing a Ganesha idol at any auspicious location or festival brings in good vibes and luck), and a “Swastik” type drawing. This thali becomes the center of attraction for without it, the festival is not as charming. Don’t forget to keep a piece or two of that sweet you’ve picked up with such enthusiasm.

Rakhi Gifts for Brother: Rakhi gifts for brothers are a tedious task. They must be prioritized first and thus, need the most research and exploration. These gifts are not necessarily expensive or fancy; they can vary from a small chocolate hamper to a lavish painting. It all depends on your budget because the thought matters rather than the size of your gift. Rakhi hampers in this case acts as a boon for they have the essentials as well as can be customized, based on your requirement, budget, and taste. They are highly convenient and are easily available for every budget. Return Gifts for Sisters: In earlier times, brothers would reciprocate the gesture of tying a Rakhi with a promise to protect and safeguard their sisters. As times changed, a trend to buy for a sister started. Thus, buying for a sister got one of the tricky things for a brother. Brothers can choose from a capacious variety of options and pick an ideal gift for their sisters. You can choose from clothes to jewellery or simply a card.

Mouth-Watering Indian Mithai: Have you ever seen a festival without Indian sweets? If yes, then maybe you need to try Ladoos and if no, then you are well aware of what’s next. Just as people cannot imagine Canada without Ice, we cannot imagine something delicious and rich as a sweet on Raksha Bandhan. Whether it is Barfee or Ladoos or Chocolate, a small portion is all you need to add the perfect note of happiness to this already joyous occasion.

Home Décor: Do you like scented candles or air mists to create the perfect ambience for your home? Making your home warm and positive is all that matters, more so on an occasion like Raksha Bandhan. You would want to dust each and every nook and corner of your home, spread out fresh sheets on the beds, clean your kitchen and adorn your shelves with showpieces. Take care that you have the perfect lighting that sets the mood and create an impact on your guests. You can also make a small Rangoli outside your house or spread out some fresh flowers on the floor. Once you are done with adjusting and settings put on some peppy songs and rejoice with your family for today is the day to celebrate love, care, relationships, and Family!

Culinary Delights: As we mentioned earlier, certain traditions say that sisters do not eat until the Rakhi ceremony is over. Thus, you could arrange for some of your favorite dishes to relish. Once the ceremony is over, everyone can sit on a table, enjoy the food and make memories for a lifetime. As they say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, same goes for women. Even more so if those dishes are picked up by the most important men in their lives.

Money Pockets or Envelopes: While money is exchanged in this festival, one wouldn’t like giving it without proper covering. Thus, you can choose from assortment of envelopes for your beloved sister. She deserves all the care and love for Rakhi. It doesn’t matter whether it is a plain white colored envelop or a fancy one. What matters is that you choose the particular pocket for her and locked your promise into safety.

Camera: What good would it be if all your good looks weren’t captured? It is a day to make memories that you would cherish for a lifetime. Thus, keep the love in your photographs and keep a camera handy. Your camera can be your phone or a professional DSLR, depending upon the availability or feasibility of resources. If not, the trusty camera phone will have to do!

Thus, with all that we could think of, to celebrate Raksha Bandhan, we also encourage brotherhood, tolerance and peace, not only towards your own but otherwise too. The world is full of hate and it needs a small gesture of kindness. So, go out, see if you can bring happiness to even one individual on this day. That is when you shall truly live the happy experience of this day. Need not be only materialistic gifts, but, spending time with those who don’t have anyone also proves to be peaceful and satisfying.
 

Gujarat Gifts helps you create memories to last a lifetime, and beyond with the services to Send Rakhi to India. We make all Rakhi essentials available to you online. If you happen to live far away from your Brother or Sister, or are not able to make it in person, on 15th August, feel free to send Rakhi Gifts Online and follow it up with the obligatory video call on your favourite app!