Siblings in country, use internet to celebrate Bhaubeej

Thane: With the number of lake-city residents moving to different parts of the country or the world growing with every year, the Bhaubeej celebrations have transitioned to the digital realm.

These days the aarti is carried out over skype and other such websites, the crucial ritual of gift exchanging has also found many new avenues.

“My sister got married and moved to the US last year, so this year was my first Bhaubeej celebration away from her. We, however, celebrated it with the same enthusiasm using the internet. She decorated her home there with lights and diyas and we conducted the aarti over skype in the evening here (her morning). She also made some faral a few days ago and sent it home for me,” said Sagar Kulkarni (21), a Hiranandani Estate resident.

Meanwhile, Brahmand resident Ankita Dedhia whose brother is working and residing in Delhi, added, “My brother has always been travelling and my mother would initially ask me to pray to moon and send my prayers and good wishes to him through chandamama. Now, we just use the video call facility and do the aarti over the internet.”

“As far as gift giving goes, I sent him an intricate and elaborate wall hanging which has our family tree pictures via speed post, and he sent me a gift card of one of my favourite shopping websites. While the celebration is still not the same as it was when he was here, the plethora of digital options available to connect with our loved ones has surely made it easier,” she added.

While these Thaneites opted to connect with their siblings on the occasion of Bhaubeej or Bhai dooj through the digital medium, a few others took advantage of the Diwali vacations and actually visiting their siblings for the celebration.

“As both my brothers are working in Dubai and the school where I teach has a Diwali break, I visited them with my parents. I celebrated Bhai Pota by putting a mix of curd and sandalwood paste on my brothers’ foreheads and feeding them traditional sweets. I also prepared some mutton kosha and traditional fish fry that they had been craving. Since they have a holiday on Friday, they took me shopping thereafter,” added Indrani Mukherjee, a Manpada resident.

As both my brothers are working in Dubai and school where I teach has a Diwali break, I visited them with my parents. I celebrated Bhai Pota by applying a paste of curd and sandalwood on my brothers’ foreheads and feeding them sweets