Siblings are the first friends we make and their place in life is irreplaceable…
The bond shared between a brother and sister transcends all barriers and boundaries and is considered to be the purest and most selfless form of love. We celebrate Raksha Bandhan to mark this relationship between brother and sister. ‘Raksha Bandhan’ literally means ‘Knot of Protection’. The brother extends his hand as a symbol of protecting the sister and the sister ties a thread around his wrist to seal the promise. This festival is observed across the country irrespective of age, caste and creed; and takes on different flavors depending on the region and the local cultural influence.
As all the Indian festivals go, Raksha Bandhan festival is laden with meaningful rituals. On the morning of the festival, in the presence of family, sister does aarti (a decorated tray with lighted lamp and flowers) around the brother and ties the Rakhi on his wrist. After that, sister prays for the well being of brother, and brother, in turn, pledges to take care of his sister lifelong. As the sister feeds brother with his favorite delicacies, Brother reciprocates by showering gifts on their sisters.
The best part of the festival is the Rakhi itself. Sisters across the country either make specially decorated rakhis or buy tastefully done colorful rakhi threads with some sort of amulet or beads added to them. Special silver rakhis, made of sacred red cotton thread with a silver pendant, are piece de resistance in well to do households. The more beautiful and colorful rakhi is, the more nurtured the bond is.
On the other hand, brothers go all the way in getting best of the gifts for their sisters to show their love. The best gifting ideas for sisters are clothes, jewelry or in the modern era, some gadget she might need. But traditionally, clothes have always been considered auspicious and appropriate gifts for women.
Here is the quick guide for the brothers out there who are looking for gifting options for their sisters.
1.Sarees: A beautiful saree, an Indian traditional weave, is the most commonly given gift for festivals and auspicious occasions. Be it traditional Kanchipuram or Banarasi Silk saree or stylish georgette or satin designer saree, nothing beats a well chosen saree. Pick a grand zari woven silk saree for a married sibling to make her feel special or gift a trendy designer saree for a younger sibling who likes to stand out.
2.Salwar Kameez: Salwar Kameez is the best gifting option for a younger sibling. The style of the salwar can be chosen depending on the age and taste of the sibling to match their sensibilities.
A regal embroidered anarkali salwar as a grand gifting gesture or a simple but elegant straight cut salwars for the demure, the choices are many and varied.
3.Gowns: If the sibling in question is fashion conscious, surprise her with a stylish and fashionable designer gown. The options in gowns range from conservative but flowing long gowns to fashion forward designer pieces for the risk takers.