Today is Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi as it is fondly called. It is a popular Indian festival wherein women tie a Rakhi (holy thread, decorated or plain) on the wrist of their brothers as a symbol of affection and the brothers, on their part, avow to take care of and protect their sisters. The festival is celebrated not only between siblings related by birth; any two people - be it colleagues, classmates or just friends - can strengthen their brotherly & sisterly love and affection by tying the Rakhi/getting the Rakhi tied. One can read more details about the festivals here and here.

Though I don’t have an own sister, I have cousin sisters (two elder and one younger) who used to tie Rakhi on my wrist every year when I was young. As the years passed on, we migrated to different cities and the festival was relegated to postal rakhis and telephonic conversations. College days again saw a few classmates tie us Rakhis and it was more of a friendship gesture than a sibling love. I have been getting the Rakhi tied from my younger cousin for the past two years, thanks to us being in the same city now. But this year I could not go and had to just stick to a phone call and hoping for a weekend visit (Sorry R) . Anyways, enough about myself…let us turn the attention on you, the readers. Being not sentimentalist fellow myself, I am curious to know what does this festival means to you people. Please let me know your feelings in the comments. Happy Raksha Bandhan!!!