Hi my friends,
As mom to both a little boy and girl upholding our traditions has become something I enjoy continuing as well as teaching my children the value behind why we practice them. One in particular is Raksha Bandhan, the tying of a cotton string between a sister and brother symbolizing their sibling bond. The brother vows to protect his sister in return from her prayers for his future and prosperity. As a community many hindu sisters will celebrate in their homes exchanging gifts, sweets and celebrating with family this tradition on Sunday August 26, 2018.
This year, I would like to begin a similar tradition in our home where both my son and daughter are celebrated on this day. Where they both agree to protect, love and pray for each other’s safety and prosperity. I do this because I want my daughter to know that she is not only precious but strong and just as capable as her male counter part, her male sibling, and that he needs her protection just as much as she does his. I would like our cultural traditions that we practice to reflect upon the strength of the female and the goddess within each woman. Because I was painted a different picture growing up, males were honored and more important in our culture.
Being female emerged in two different cultures, I questioned many of our traditions and why we practiced them, including Rahki. This tradition was about being protected by your brother but since I am the eldest of three sisters and no brothers. The question was who do we turn to for protection? It made no sense to me growing up or held no meaning because of this mere fact. A tradition meant for a brother and sister bond everyone else was left unprotected. I was never to excited to partake, if we did, there were years that would go by and then some years that we would participate tying a Rakhi on one of our male cousins. Since it was not a tradition that was practiced annually and because I never felt the sibling bond between any of my male cousins as intended, it never really was not a tradition I put much energy into until now. Looking back, it would have been nice to have celebrated this bond between us sisters, then it probably would have meant more.
I hope that beginning this year my daughter will tie her first Rahki onto her brothers wrist and he will do the same in turn to her, remembering they are both strong and valuable beings who have a bond between them that is unbreakable.
We will be celebrating with these Rahki bands from Teal FireflyTeal Firefly I love how colorful and kid friendly they are. What I like about the brand is their mission to reflect the culture of India within today’s modern world. As a mom they help make my job easier when it comes to teaching our children old traditions with a modern twist.
Happy Rakhi to all brothers and sisters!
Thanks for reading!
Cindy
