Traditionally, Raksha Bandhan is a day of siblings where their bond is sealed with a rakhi, a symbol made of a thread. But as the country evolves and nuclear families, single-child homes, and chosen relationships become the norm, the festival has transcended its conventional definition. It's no longer just about a brother and a sister, it's about celebrating protection, care, and unconditional love in all forms.
On the surface, Raksha Bandhan may seem simple: a sister ties a rakhi around her brother's wrist, and he, in turn, vows to protect her and often gives her something in appreciation. But beneath many layers is the ritual of remembrance, of holding on to a childhood camaraderie, and even of redefining who family is. For single children or those separated by distance or circumstances, Rakshabandhan evokes different kinds of emotions – longing, yes, but also creativity, and an opportunity to build new traditions.
Me, my protector
Fashion Design student Tanvi Rana, on the other hand, ties a rakhi on her wrist to celebrate self-love. "I made books for my best friend. Both my parents were working, so I grew up with a nanny. In school, my classmates would ask, 'Whom do you tie rakhi to if you don't have a brother?' I would say 'no one', and then they would feel sorry for me. Some boys would come and say I am your brother but I was not comfortable. I didn't need anyone's sympathy," recalls the Delhi resident.
At 16, she decided to tie a rakhi to her own wrist after a mental health awareness workshop in her school. "I was like, I have to protect myself first from anxiety, self-doubt, and negative thoughts. So I started doing that. I even write letters to myself. I don't think Rakhi has to be about someone else. It can be about honouring the relationship with yourself, and I do that," she asserts.
Across time zones
Ritwik Agarwal, a tech programmer from Mumbai, celebrates Raksha Bandhan alone, but her cousin-sister in Canada sends him a rakhi every year. "It bridges the distance. Mili grew up in the same joint family until her parents moved to Toronto when they both were 10. "I am an only child, but I never felt alone, as we still connect just like any brother and sister. We used to write letters, now we are just a call away. Every year, without fail, her rakhi reaches me by post," says Ritwik.
This ritual of tying a rakhi is beyond any bonds. It's about sharing the roots even if someone is continents apart. While some are sending custom rakhis to their brothers, some are delivering special gifts to the ones who make them feel their own. For many single children, Rakhi is not just about the day, but about memory, nostalgia, their potential to love someone, and how they connect with themselves.
Love, not lineage
As Raksha Bandhan remains intact, no matter how family dynamics change. Single children are finding new meaning in Rakhi despite not having a sibling. Amit Rajput, a marketing executive in Mumbai, considers his best friend as his Rakhi sister. As an only child raised in the suburbs of the city, Amit never had to share his tiffin or television remote with his sibling.
"I used to feel left out in school when friends would share their stories about fighting with brothers or buying gifts for sisters. This went on, but then my friend Shalini tied a Rakhi on Raksha Bandhan for fun. But since then, we continued this as a tradition," says Amit. He says every year she comes to his home with a rakhi, and he cooks for her. "She is the one I call when I mess up things. I fight with her like real siblings," he quips.
Heartfelt, not human
Rhea Sinha, an Illustrator from Delhi, says her rescue dog is her rakhi brother. "He is family," she says. Rhea grew up as a single child, and while her parents encouraged her to find comfort in friendships, she found her bond with Bruno, a golden retriever she adopted six years ago. "I was going through a rough patch when he came into my life. He has been my anchor in every moment of my life, so who could be a better brother than him?" shares Rhea.
Every Raksha Bandhan, she ties a rakhi around Bruno and chooses the best one for him. I baked a cake for him. I may sound silly to many people, but that's how I feel. He protects my sanity and makes me smile whenever I have a bad day," shares the Illustrator. Rhea also sends texts to her close friends and cousins in different cities and countries to remind them of their shared strength.
Ties that evolve
India is changing, and with it, are its traditions. Raksha Bandhan is no longer confined to gender roles and family formats. It is now an open canvas, where love takes precedence over lineage. Psychologist and family therapist Simran Ravalia says that rituals are evolving with the changing dynamics of family and relationships.
"Festivals are the mirrors to our social fabric of society. As the definitions of family are changing, rituals are evolving too. However, the human's need to feel seen, supported, and protected remains the same," says Ravalia.
So this year, if you are tying rakhi to your brother, a mentor, a pet, or to yourself, consider that silk or cotton thread as a symbol, as what truly matters is the bond it represents. "Rakshabandhan is not just a festival, it's a feeling and that comes from within," says the family therapist.
