Celebrating Raksha Bandhan in ironic times.
India is a country of myriads of the festivals, where every month some or other festivals are celebrated with utmost zeal, happiness and excitement, bringing people together and spreading love, affection and brotherhood amongst them. Raksha Bandhan is one of the festivals celebrated “Hindus” all around the world with great joy and care. On this auspicious occasion, sisters tie a thread called ‘Rakhi’ on the wrists of their brothers, while brothers promise to protect them at times of need and danger. The roots of Raksha Bandhan lies in ancient times with many legends attached to it.
Over the years with the evolution of time, there has been a significant amount of change in the way a particular festival is celebrated, so is the case with Raksha Bandhan. In modern times, simple threads have been taken over fancy and expensive rakhis; and I am not sure about the “promise to protect”, but definitely brothers’ pockets get empty very soon. But, more than merely tying a rakhi, exchanging sweets, and giving the present and money, the festival of “Rakhi” symbolizes the warmth, love and care in the perennial bond between brother and sister.
Amidst the celebration of the festival of Raksha Bandhan which glorify the bond between brother and sister, it’s a very ironic fact that our fellow “sisters” still don’t feel safe to walk freely at night, and the cases of crimes such as rape, exploitation, eve-teasing, harassment continue to take place unabated. And you know, who they fear from or who are the perpetrators of such crimes? The perpetrators are also someone’s brothers. They too have sisters about whom they can’t tolerate a single bad word. But, Alas! such people forget that a girl at whom they pass lewd comments, do anything that makes her uncomfortable and enrages her modesty and crushes her soul, is also someone’s sister.
The best present you can give to your sister on this occasion of Raksha Bandhan is not the money or any assurance to protect her, but a resolve not do or say anything to the sister of someone else that you wouldn’t like to be said to or done with your own sister
Currently, I am pursuing B.A(H) Political science from Satyawati College, Delhi University.
I like public speaking, writing and reading in my leisure.
