Raksha Bandhan&a day of love, family and tradition ❤️

The celebrations usually begin with getting everything ready for the Rakhi ceremony. A small puja thali is prepared with a rakhi, diya, roli or kumkum, rice, sweets and sometimes flowers. The sister applies a tilak on her brother's forehead, performs a small aarti and then ties the rakhi around his wrist while praying for his happiness and well-being. After that, sweets are shared and gifts are exchanged.

But honestly, the ceremony is only one part of it.

For me, the best part is everyone getting together, dressing up, taking pictures, eating way too many sweets and just spending time with family. There is always a little bit of teasing, a few laughs and probably some arguing somewhere along the way, but that is what makes it feel real.

There are also many beautiful stories connected with Raksha Bandhan. One of the most well-known stories comes from the Mahabharata, where Draupadi tore a piece of cloth from her saree to cover Krishna's injured finger. Krishna remembered her kindness and later protected her when she needed him most. Another traditional story tells of Goddess Shachi tying a sacred thread to Indra's wrist before battle. These stories are different, but they all carry the same idea of love, faith and protection.

And maybe that is why Rakhi still feels so special even today. The tradition may have started centuries ago, but the feeling behind it is something everyone can understand. Having someone who will stand by you, look out for you and be there through everything.

This Friday's Rakhi was another one of those days that I know I'll look back on and remember. The decorations, the outfits, the food, the laughs and, of course, all the pictures we took made the day even more special.