Rakhi or Raksha Bandhan, though a festival celebrated by both brothers and sisters all over the world, predominantly belongs to sisters. It is a day filled with the 3 Fs – fun, food and festivities. Like most brothers, I would also like to remember this day that way. Today, at the ripe age of seventy-five, I have many things and people in my life to feel fortunate about. And one of them is definitely my twin sister. As twins, we had our fair share of troubles and fun, to say the least! But being physical apart from each other (I being in the Australian capital of Canberra and she being in Mumbai) has taken a toll on us.

Though we call each other up almost every week, and especially on Rakhi, Tai serving me her famous Gulab Jamuns and Poha for breakfast on that auspicious day is something I miss dearly. Till a few years ago, Rakhi meant the customary call to Mumbai to speak to Tai and seek her blessings. But since last year, there has been a paradigm shift in this routine. Now I wait for Tai to send rakhi to Australia and even though last year she sent me a kids rakhi, I was deeply touched by the gesture. It was almost like when we were kids and Tai would tie a cute, little rakhi on my wrist and I would run around showing it off to everybody, including the neighbours and my friends at school. Ah! Those were the days.

When I asked Tai how she was able to send rakhi to Australia, she stunned me by saying that it was because of the internet. My sister knew much more about online shopping. On further enquiry, she narrated me about her experience with www.rakhi.in. Of all the things available on the internet, I am the happiest to know that such a site is there to help out brothers and sisters reinforce their love for one another. On checking the site out personally I found that it has an enviable collection of rakhis and yes, kids rakhi too.

I was also surprised to see that rakhi pooja thalis (www.rakhi.in/rakhi-pooja-thalis.html) are also available!I have already dropped a few hints to Tai and hope that she picks them up and understands that this year I want her to send me one of the rakhi pooja thalis available on the site. As the elder twin, I leave the choice on her if she wants to send me a special rakhi pooja thali, a big and beautiful rakhi thali or a rakhi thali with yummy treat. The treat would certainly be a reminder of Tai’s home-cooked meals on Rakhi that included my favourites – Shakarpara, Bhakarwadi, Puran Poli and Tambada Rassa.

Today, all because of the wonderful rakhi online shopping, siblings have cannot blame the lack of time and/or opportunity as an excuse to not celebrate Rakhi. We live in uncertain and volatile times and if there is anything that can be counted on, it is family. And that is what this festival is all about. It reminds you that you can have all the comforts, luxuries and riches that you aspire but the love of a caring sister or the trust of a doting brother can never be replaced.