E-bhaiphonta connects families across oceans

KOLKATA: Distance certainly doesn't come in the way of celebrations any more, thanks to the internet. So if we saw Puja parikrama and offered 'pushpanjali' through Skype and Whatsapp, there is no reason why we should miss the 'bhai phonta' fun just because of physical distance.
So, on Tuesday, there will be many families that will come together on screens with sisters applying the protective sandalwood-paste 'phonta' on their brother's virtual foreheads among ululations and blowing of conch shells.
Social networking sites were full of messages, posts, wall writings, tags and share of picture collages that siblings shared to make their relations hip feel special ahead of Brothers' Day, as 'bhaiphonta' is now being called by Indians living abroad, in order to make it understandable to foreigners around them.
Abhishek Banerjee, who works as an executive in London has promised not to miss his childhood ritual this year.“I have missed out on two consecutive 'bhaiphonta' celebrations. This year we will celebrate over Skype and exchange gifts through online shopping portals, gift sites and even through air-mail,“ he said. “It's not the same thing as celebrating physically but I make do with the sandal wood 'phonta' on the mobile screen itself,“ said Priyanka Banerjee Das.
“It's not at a great feeling to be away from home for 'bhaiphonta'. It was a must for me since I was three. However, thanks to internet, things have definitely become much easier but still I have sent them chocolates and personalized gifts,“ said Sudeshna Dutta, a student who stays in Bang alore. “On Facebook, I would put up some amazing collages of our childhood pictures and a nice caption to go with it. I prefer giving gifts like T-shirts, ashtrays etc, which I have ordered on online shopping portals,“ said Shreesha Ghosh, who too lives in Bangalore. Aishik Saha, a Teach for India Fellow, who lives in Mumbai, will be Skyping his sister. He has ordered for a good set of headphones from an online portal.