Well folks, we are close to Rakshabandhan! Where has time flown? This year this fun sibling holiday is on August 3rd. I thought that so many people probably have young kids at home this would be the perfect time to give them some ideas on how to make their indoor Rakshabandhan special! This is a time for siblings to truly think about one another and although the tradition is for a sister to tie a rakhi on her brother, I believe that the sibling bond is the same no matter if you’re a brother or a sister. If you’re an only child and you’ve had a best friend or truly someone that has been with you like a sibling through life I encourage you to partake in the tradition! A rakhi is a symbol of protection from a sister to her brother. A promise to take care and look out for them. For me, this promise is true for several people in my life. I have two good friends from college that had never really received rakhis growing up, but loved the tradition, and 6 years later I still send a rakhi and a little care package full of goodies for the both of them. This year in quarantine, Rakshabandhan comes at a time where you can really show how much you care. I’ve assembled a list of ways for kids and adults to make this holiday special.
- Make a special Mithai (sweet)! So many bloggers out there have AMAZING recipes that are kid friendly to make. If you have a sweet tooth I would highly recommend making your own dessert at home instead of purchasing chocolates. It adds a homemade touch that’s special for whoever is on the receiving end of your gift. I highly recommend Eagle Brand Seven Layer Magic Cookie Bars, they are my brother’s all time favorite and a cinch to make! It is also a very kid friendly recipe, I’ve been making it with them since they were tots! Nisha from @lovelaughmirch has loads of great recipes including eggless ones for those who have dietary restrictions. No matter what, a homemade dessert is a surefire way to bring a smile on someone’s face and it might keep the kids busy for an hour or two!
- Make your rakhis at home! Because my family is so big and I always had so many cousins around my mom would often have me make my rakhis at home. It would be so exciting to pull out a big box of string and beads and may special rakhis for each brother. As I grew up, I started buying rakhis for convenience. Due to COVID-2019, why not spend some time at home crafting? Any craft store (Micheals, JoAnn Fabrics, Hobby Lobby) will have a string and beads set you can also search for “friendship bracelet kits” online. For more variety, Etsy and Amazon are great places to look for charms or other decorations for your rakhi. This is a great way to bond with younger kids so that you can both share in the tradition! It is beautiful to see parents modeling these traditions for their children. I love that my mom and aunts still go out of their way to ensure their brothers receive a rakhi every year, and my effort is to continue that tradition onwards. If you would like to buy rakhis instead of making them I highly recommend buying from a small business if you can. I bought these rakhis from a @lacuna.creations who I found on Instagram! She makes personalized rakhis or ones with an Om on them. They were ready for me to pick up the next day which was so convenient. Etsy will also have loads of people that will sell supplies or ready made rakhis. This is a great time to show your love for local and small businesses that are struggling in COVID times. Spread the love!
- Send/Make a care package! This is a great way to show your love and attention to the other person’s likes and dislikes! In my care packages I try to ship things that are unique in their own way. I try to ship a couple of items that are popular in Texas because typically that person lives out of state. Candy, bags of specialty popcorn, uniquely flavored chips, sports jerseys, etc. are great examples. I love using Edoughble or Wicked Good Cupcakes to order a special sweet surprise for a loved one! Etsy has great care packages like the one featured below. I sent this package to my Fiancé as a “just because” gift. It was loaded up with lots of great British chocolates that are among his favorites. One year, in my care package, I sent a Spurs basketball jersey, chipotle ranch flavored Cheetos, tamarind candy, and Swedish Fish! Try to make your care package unique to the person you’re sending it for. For Gujarati families a great way to show love is to send a box full of naasto items like chevdo, chakri, ghatiya, and fafda. Like I said in my “About Me” post, one of the best ways to show love is through food!
- Schedule a video call and dress up! Dressing up is one of those signs that the day is going to be celebratory in a way. The fun of selecting an outfit and rushing to get ready is one of those things that makes a day special especially in quarantine. If you send your rakhis in advance, schedule a video call with all of your friends and family and show each house tying their share of rakhis for each other! It is a special feeling to know that your rakhi was sent so far away and didn’t end up still in the envelope. It gives me happiness to know that my brother actually ended up wearing his rakhi even though I wasn’t around to put it on him myself!
