Love between Brothers and Sisters

Aug 30

According to the Hindu calendar, today is the full moon day of Shukla Paksha of Shravan month. Coincidentally, today is also Super Blue Moon Day. But today we are also celebrating the popular festival of Raksha Bandhan (Bond of Protection).

This festival symbolizes the everlasting and unbreakable bond between brothers and sisters. It is celebrated with love and happiness, when sisters tie the sacred thread (Rakhi) on the wrist of their brothers and wish them all the happiness and success in the world.

Rakhi is not just a thread, but it symbolizes the promise of protection given by a brother to his sister. Therefore, people also tie Rakhi to the idols of gods and goddesses on this auspicious day. There are many mythological stories starting from Yama and Yamuna, but what is important is its spirit.

When sisters travel back to their parents' home for the ceremony, they also take a pledge from their respective brothers while tying the Rakhi to take care of their aged parents.

There was a time when I spent all my childhood playing, fighting, making noise and sharing all kinds of secrets with my siblings, who were my closest companions.

My eldest sister was closest to me. As the youngest sibling, I shared an unparalleled affinity. She used to play with me every day by making me assume the roles of Bhagat Singh or Lord Rama or Krishna. She was expert in combing my hard hair which she referred to as horsehair.

I remember when as a teenager I received a love letter from a classmate, I was a little confused, and in anxiety I shared it with my elder brother, who, without telling anyone, in his own way guided me.

Growing up, after marriage we started our separate lives and now rarely meet each other. As time passed, the number of relatives around us decreased. Now we realize the value of love between brothers and sisters. Our parents were the only link that connected all of us.

I recently came across an online video depicting a poignant encounter between a 96-year-old brother and his centenarian sister, residing at a considerable distance. Following a concise yet heartfelt reunion, as the time came for his departure, the sister followed his brother's car and gave Rs 200 to her brother to buy something nice to eat. Before she could finish her words, both of them burst into tears.

Do you not find it profoundly fortunate to possess siblings during the later stages of life? Indeed, as we age, the recognition of the significance inherent in having familial ties becomes more pronounced. As we advance in years and witness the departure of our parents, our siblings assume a paramount role among the individuals who hold importance in our lives, second only to our partners and offspring.

In the twilight of our years, their presence envelops us in a comforting embrace, unfazed by the shadows of bygone hardships or lingering resentments, if any. The enduring bond thrives through shared endearment, for within it lie the invaluable legacies bequeathed unto us by our progenitors in this mortal world.

Our own daughters are important to us, but our father's daughters are no less important. And we are fortunate to celebrate this cherished bond through Raksha Bandhan every year.