MY BROTHER’S WRIST SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE A RAKHI
Sisters are ensuring that no matter where they are today, their brothers should have a Rakhi on their wrists. For Ishita Sharma, who is studying in Australia, coming home for Rakhi every year is not possible. But she makes sure that her brother has a Rakhi today. “It’s been three years that I have been sending Rakhis to my younger brother.I miss being at home on this special day. Gladly, the courier services are reliable and punctual and because of them I get all my gifts on time and it doesn’t make me feel that I am not at home. But still, nothing compares to the joy of being at home at the festival.”

WHEN THE DISTANCE IS JUST A NUMBER
Charulata Nair, a medical student who studies in Mauritius, shares with us her Rakhi tradition of every year. “I am the only sister of my five brothers on the maternal side. Rakhi used to be a day full of pampering and special treatment. Ever since I came to Mauritius, I make sure that my brothers don't feel that I am far away from them. I make sure that I send letters and Rakhi to all of them and they reach in time. Sending Rakhi physically gives me happiness and I can relate to the joy when my brothers receive it. Video calls or phone calls are just a regular thing and nothing special.”
PACKING THE MINUTEST DETAILS WITH RAKHI PARCELS
When a sister packs Rakhi for her brother, it's not just the Rakhi but a complete emotional package. Geeta Chhabra in her late forties shares, “When I pack my Rakhi, I make sure that my parcel doesn't look incomplete. I always keep a teeka, some chaaval (rice) and a toffee to complete the rituals for the day. My brother makes sure that he uses them all and send me snaps. I do the same for my mother in law too, she has been sending Rakhis for over fifty-five years now.” The duo has been sending the parcel together since the last twenty-eight years and both make sure that their parcel reaches on time. Along with the parcel, is a small handwritten letter for their beloved brothers which is cherished the most. “I, being the eldest, got married early and left my house when my brothers were quite young. But there has not been a year when my Rakhi hasn't reached them. I am not an internet person, I still believe in celebrating the festival in oldfashioned way,” shares 75 years old Nirmal Chhabra.

WHEN BROTHERS SEEK RAKHI PARCELS
The zeal that a sister shows in sending the Rakhi parcels for their brother, is reciprocated by brothers in receiving them. “It has been around fifty years that I am receiving Rakhis from my sisters who live in different cities. Every year, I wait for them to arrive and tie them on my wrist to tell them that I received them and am wearing them. It is a feeling which text messages can't give us. There is a personalised touch in tying rakhis sent by my sister,” as shared by Dr Pradeep Kapoor.
While Captain Raj Kartik Nair, a naval officer shares, “Now after so many years when all of us are far away from making our own careers, every year when my runner comes to me saying “sir aap ke lie Daak aaya hai” is a feeling unmatched by any other joy. We often use video calls but there's no fun in the virtual world.”

pics: Vishesh Sharma