I have two brothers. Bhai, who is older, is the book I might write one day. Manu, our funny-serious kid brother, is my collection of short stories. Yet every year when Rakshabandhan comes around, I just want to ignore it and look the other way till it has passed.
Very moving and I don't even have siblings! But this is how I feel about my first cousins. It makes me sad that as boys, our brothers couldn't easily be vulnerable when they needed to be protected.
Also, you worked on Chhupa Rustam! Fun memories of watching that! 😄
This is so beautiful and so true! I was talking to someone earlier today and the topic of raksha bandhan came up. He said almost exactly what you said about how irrelevant the festival felt to him. As one of two sisters i too always felt excluded from this festival. Feels to good to read similar thoughts from someone else
As the elder of two sisters, this post resonated so deeply… we have our own rituals embedded in our memories. A day is just not enough when the love that bonds you is so special.
Such a wholesome read! I share a very close bond with my brother too and Raksha bandhan is something we look forward too. However, your take on Raksha Bandhan has helped me look at this ritual in new light! And look at my space in our relationship so differently. Very thought provoking read. Thanks so much for sharing this :)
The pictures! 🥹 I have two sisters and Raksha Bandhan for us meant watching people feel bad for us while we tried to figure out why. Even in our tiny heads, we were content to be a family of three siblings. Not sisters.
Thank you for this gentle calling out of traditions that "other" us.
My mother made me tie rakhi on a neighbour's son's wrist years ago when I used to visit Mumbai. We lost track of each other but I always liked the concept of Rakhi till I started reading about the patriarchal idea behind it. I love how you portrayed the sibling relationship in your piece. May be we could now have Rakhi where both the boys and girls could tie a thread on each other's wrists promising each other to be a pillar of support for each other <3 The burden feels unfair on girls as much as it is unfair on boys - as if our brothers never needed us to support them.
Beautifully articulated and carries it's truths so lightly. Our relationships -including with siblings - should really never be hostage to special days and reductive customs.
Wonderfully articulated,you write so well. Your take on Raksha bandhan is singular and significant. I find it inspiring. Much liked.More power to your quill.
A warm read in your warm writing voice, and the photographs just enhance the emotions. I do not have a brother but a super protective elder sister and we have no day to celebrate our relationship! I had not truly realised this until I read your essay, and it's a big realisation. Whenever you speak and write about your brothers, I realise how sibling love is quite an underexplored emotional landscape, especially when we remove the lens of gender and other cliche.💜🌺
I didn’t want to read it today- I am away from my siblings, again, and don’t want to be reminded of it. I am sobbing as I write this. But thank you for writing this, I now know that I also celebrate Rakhi with them, in my own way.
Very moving and I don't even have siblings! But this is how I feel about my first cousins. It makes me sad that as boys, our brothers couldn't easily be vulnerable when they needed to be protected.
Also, you worked on Chhupa Rustam! Fun memories of watching that! 😄
This is so beautiful and so true! I was talking to someone earlier today and the topic of raksha bandhan came up. He said almost exactly what you said about how irrelevant the festival felt to him. As one of two sisters i too always felt excluded from this festival. Feels to good to read similar thoughts from someone else
As the elder of two sisters, this post resonated so deeply… we have our own rituals embedded in our memories. A day is just not enough when the love that bonds you is so special.
Sister-love is something else. So grounded.
Such a wholesome read! I share a very close bond with my brother too and Raksha bandhan is something we look forward too. However, your take on Raksha Bandhan has helped me look at this ritual in new light! And look at my space in our relationship so differently. Very thought provoking read. Thanks so much for sharing this :)
Thanks Minaz, sending love and warm fuzzies
The pictures! 🥹 I have two sisters and Raksha Bandhan for us meant watching people feel bad for us while we tried to figure out why. Even in our tiny heads, we were content to be a family of three siblings. Not sisters.
Thank you for this gentle calling out of traditions that "other" us.
My mother made me tie rakhi on a neighbour's son's wrist years ago when I used to visit Mumbai. We lost track of each other but I always liked the concept of Rakhi till I started reading about the patriarchal idea behind it. I love how you portrayed the sibling relationship in your piece. May be we could now have Rakhi where both the boys and girls could tie a thread on each other's wrists promising each other to be a pillar of support for each other <3 The burden feels unfair on girls as much as it is unfair on boys - as if our brothers never needed us to support them.
Beautiful. Wants to have a sis at 50 :)
Dad being in Air Force. I have tied so many rakhis - all different cities.
Rakhi = Good food & Pampering with a gift chosen by MOM - That's my memory which lasted till the school. But Thanks for rekindling the memories.
Thanks for reading!
Beautifully articulated and carries it's truths so lightly. Our relationships -including with siblings - should really never be hostage to special days and reductive customs.
Thanks Ronita
Nice Natasha.
Thanks Anita ❤️
Wonderfully articulated,you write so well. Your take on Raksha bandhan is singular and significant. I find it inspiring. Much liked.More power to your quill.
Thank you 😊
A warm read in your warm writing voice, and the photographs just enhance the emotions. I do not have a brother but a super protective elder sister and we have no day to celebrate our relationship! I had not truly realised this until I read your essay, and it's a big realisation. Whenever you speak and write about your brothers, I realise how sibling love is quite an underexplored emotional landscape, especially when we remove the lens of gender and other cliche.💜🌺
Thank you, Raju 🪁
I didn’t want to read it today- I am away from my siblings, again, and don’t want to be reminded of it. I am sobbing as I write this. But thank you for writing this, I now know that I also celebrate Rakhi with them, in my own way.
Sending love, Mitu ❤️
Oh Natasha,I cry everything I read this. It reminds me so much of my brother and this was the essay that made me look for your writings ,everywhere.
Wow how lovely. Sending you 🌻❤️