An Indian evening of Raksha Bandhan and birthday celebration
This evening, Vee and I were delighted to spend time with our lovely Indian neighbours Anil & Bharti (grandparents), Manish & Krishna (parents), and Deepa (16) & Anand (12).
It was mainly a celebration of Deepa’s 16th birthday (which is actually on Wednesday), but it was also an occasion to mark the Indian festival of Raksha Bandhan (which is also on Wednesday). Outside of Manish’s three staff, who are from various parts of the former USSR, we were the only non-Indians there among a vibrant gathering of around 60 and we felt very privileged to share in this cultural celebration.
In the West, we have Father’s Day and Mother’s Day but we have no equivalent to Raksha Bandhan which marks the relationship of brother and sister. The sister ties a rakhi. a sacred coloured thread, on her brother’s wrist, while the brother offers money (not exactly a fair exchange). We ate delicious Indian food and Vee was given a lovely shawl.