Today is Raksha Bandhan - a festival to celebrate the pious bond between a brother and a sister. Sisters tie rakhi to their brothers and brothers promise to always stand by their sisters through thick and thin, protecting them against all odds throughout their lives. Well, I have my own questions regarding this. Why should brothers only take the responsibility of standing by their sisters? Shouldn't sisters too make a promise to be there for their brothers and stand by them? What about those girls who don't have a brother? Does that mean they should get a feeling that since they don't have a brother so no one will be there for them?
Having a daughter and a son in a family is indeed an ideal combination. But we never ever wanted our girls to grow up feeling the need of having a brother in their lives. They should have such a strong bond that they don't feel the need of having anyone else in their lives. Anvesha and Anvika don't have a brother, but that does not mean they cannot celebrate Raksha Bandhan. Right from the time Anvika was born we have been celebrating Rakhi with them. It's not about feminism, it's basically questioning the meaning of the festival itself. It's not about a brother protecting his sister, rather siblings protecting each other.
So on this special day, Anvesha and Anvika tied Rakhi to each other- making a promise that they will protect each other throughout their lives.
Having or not having a brother doesn't really matter. What matters the most is the special bond that siblings share and grow up knowing that their sibling will stand by them no matter what. And it's that promise that we celebrate as Rakhi.
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