Celebrating Raksha Bandhan

- Neelima Singhal

The bazaar is crowded this evening. It is the Hindu month of Shravan (August or September), in Delhi, India. People like to shop after the sun goes down during the hot summer months. I walk around the bazaar with my mummy, papa, and little brother, Sanjay. We are shopping for the festival of Raksha Bandhan, which is the full moon day of Shravan.

Raksha means safety, and bandhan means bond. This special festival celebrates the loving and caring bond between sisters and brothers. A sister ties a rakhi to her brother’s wrist as a request that he protect her in times of need. She is also wishing him a long and happy life.

Shopkeepers all around the bazaar display colorful rakhis. A rakhi is a silken cord decorated with beads, sequins, buttons, flowers, or paper cutouts. Sisters used to make rakhis at home, but now most girls buy them in the shops. There are so many to choose from! There are little ones to fit small boys and larger ones for men.

Salesmen shout to get our attention.