Snooplay on Raksha Bandhan: Thoughts, Opinions & Experiences

The bond between brothers and sisters is either ready-made (biological) or a conscious decision (sociological). It has the potential to be nurtured to be the best or be treated as the worst, neglected and undervalued. Whichever it is, we think that Raksha Bandhan is an occasion to re-evaluate this relationship.

So we asked our bosses (the two heads and the ten others who assume the body and the limbs) of Snooplay to share their thoughts and experiences on Raksha Bandhan. After all, we would like to know what it means to celebrate this bond.

Here’s what they have to say.

Social Media Associate, Ritwika Dasgupta says, “As the term itself expresses, 'raksha' means 'to protect'. Traditionally, Raksha Bandhan has always been treated as a celebration of the brother-sister bond, the vow to protect each other. However, I feel this is not just about a brother who protects or the sister who showers love upon her brother.”

She also added,

Well, those are wise words, Ritwika! We absolutely agree with you on this. 100%

Co-founder Brij Raj emphasises sharing our time with family no matter how hectic our schedules are. After all, we believe that he's the kind of man who frees his time for family. Let's hear more from him.

"In today’s busy lives, Raksha Bandhan is a festival where siblings (brother or a sister) would take out time from their daily hectic schedules to spend it with each other and reflect back on good old memories and make new ones! It's a tradition, celebrated once every year, that ensures that the bonds are always running strong.

"I associate the festival with me taking out time for my sisters and setting back the bank balance by quite some margin."

Yes, Brij. Bank employees would have no work to do otherwise if you don't give them any figures to calculate, no?

Program Manager, Joyce Joseph, is more than glad to reminisce those days when cold hearts get warmed up by the occasion. Here's what he told us.

“Coming from a Catholic family, we were not used to celebrating Raksha Bandhan." Apparently, and this is coming from Joyce himself, his parents decided that -- 

My, my! I could literally visualise how it is at your home, Joyce! But yes, they did celebrate it for a couple of years.

Joyce also added, "Since it is a holiday, the family from my father's side used to have a get-together. We tried the same here as well. Gloomy faces due to family disputes lightened up when my aunts tied rakhis to their brothers. Maybe it helped them look into the bond they have had with each other in the first 20 years of their lives, and that supersedes any conflicts among them when they were pushed into different phases of their lives.”

Operations Associate, Kirtiman Das, doesn't have a biological sister. Does it matter though, Kirtiman? Let's check out what he said.

“Definitely not! See, although I don't have any sisters of my own, I do celebrate Raksha Bandhan with my two cousin sisters every year.

"Back at my home, there is this ritual that we follow. Firstly, my sisters go to the temple and tie Rakhi to Lord Krishna. After that, my father goes to the sweets shop and brings sweets and snacks as offerings for the ritual. Then, all the brothers, including me, go to Pujaa Ghar where my sister ties rakhi to our hands and we give gifts in return. Finally, we all go to the city and spend the whole day chilling and having fun.

"Since I belong to Banaras, we go to ghats, and watch a new movie, among other things. After spending all day with each other, we return home where we end the day by enjoying a delicious dinner cooked by my mom.

"Now that my work is in Delhi, I look forward to going home and celebrating Rakhi with my family.”

We all look forward to hearing about the fun you have with your family, Kirtiman. We're just one cabin away, you know.

Our Visual Content Executive, Mukul Sehrawat, wishes her sister a great life and promises to be on the journey with her all throughout. Let's back this claim with evidence.

“Raksha Bandhan for me is a kind of festival that makes me feel more responsible. No matter how much we fight with our siblings, the bond never goes away."

Below are his words for his sister and how the festival makes him feel. 

Aww, Mukul. That's sweet! Your sister surely feels blessed to have you in her life, as well.

Our Customer Support Specialist, Saksham Rajput, joined the team (actually, somebody kept on reminding him about this), and here's what he feels about it.

"Rakshabandhan has always been a special festival for me. It started with the excitement of having cool-looking Rakhis tied on the wrist and developed into a genuine feeling of a brother-sister bond as I grew up. It is also one of the rare opportunities for my cousins and me to get together at the same place, have a good time and catch up. This year is going to be one such a year as after a long time we all are in the same city and I'm really looking forward to it."

Well, we'd like you to show us that rakhi on your hand come Friday, Saksham. We're in for a short gossip, too. Tell us how the celebration went, perhaps?

Operations Associate, Debjit Bisai, looped us in on what is the festival about and how it is celebrated. 

"One of the most loved festivals in India, Raksha Bandhan is celebrated with much zeal and enthusiasm. The festival symbolises the love between siblings and the purity and sanctity of the bond that exists between them. On this day, sisters tie rakhi on their brother's wrists, wishing them a long and prosperous life.

"This festival is celebrated full of joy and merriment where gifts are exchanged and sweets shared. Like all other festivals, Raksha Bandhan too has a deeply traditional and cultural significance. This day also marks an auspicious day in the Hindu calendar. This year, however, people are confused about the date to celebrate Rakhi. I am not, though (laughed).

"This festival falls on the full moon day of Shravan."

Thank you for that chunk of information, Debjit. We'll always remember it.

Pragya Dixit, Finance Executive, shares hers and we couldn't agree more.

"For me, Raksha Bandhan is a promise that is made of five elements (fire, water, earth, ether, and air), as archaic as celestial deities and shared with humans through time.

“Raksha Bandhan is a bond that doesn’t require siblings to be connected through DNA. Rakhi is a sacred thread that makes a brother protector of his sisters till his last breath. A thread that keeps her safe from all evil and misfortunes. This bond is one holy bond to keep the relationship of a brother and sister purest."

She also strongly believes that, 

Now that just makes a lot of sense, doesn't it, dear readers?

Like Kirtiman, the Co-founder of Snooplay Aanchal Mahajan is an only child, but that didn't deprive her of how special Rakhi is to her. This is what she told us.

"Even though I do not have a sibling, being born in a big Indian joint family never made me feel deprived of brotherly love. Growing up with cousins has been an extremely special chapter in my life and so has Rakhi. From shopping for weird Rakhi’s that embarrass brothers to buying new clothes for myself and decking up on D-Day, I look back at Rakhi with a lot of mixed emotions. Even though we’re all geographically so distanced now, Raksha Bandhan every year brings back so many emotions-- happy, since I can relive memories of receiving ‘special envelopes’ from brothers and sad because I miss growing up around my cousins and extended family."

Well, Aanchal you have a new extended family in us. Just take note though that we like to be on the receiving end of these 'special envelopes' (wink, wink)

Brand Partnership, Akanksha Gupta pitched in too (she too was bombarded with reminders...laugh), and here's what she thinks about the festival.

"The sincere responsibility of a brother to protect his sister, and the love and care of the sister towards her brother, celebrated on Raksha Bandhan, is like a sacred day symbolising the spiritual connection between two human beings, to be there for each other whenever the other needs them the most. A beautiful festival that illustrates the purest of relationships, where the compassion among the family members is expressed through gifts, sweets and a variety of delicious dishes." 

Well Akansha, we too do believe that life is more colourful and miseries of life are more tolerable to bear when we have people around us as a support system. 

Also, our Brand Partnership Manager, Himanshu Malik shares his experience and this is what he told us about the festival.

"Not having a real sister made me associate Raksha Bandhan more as a festival than a tradition. On this occasion, it is always the environment and the atmosphere that it festival brings that makes it extra special, you know, the joy of getting together. I like the feeling. 

"It is a festival depicting bond and trust between brothers and sisters, which I cherish wholeheartedly more than any other things in life."

Well Himanshu, we're simply glad that you have cousin sisters to celebrate this festival with. And your words below are enough to convince us.

Our Head of PR & Content was not spared, mind you. So this is what she said.

"In the country where I grew up, there is no festival specifically dedicated to the bond between brothers and sisters. But the way I understand it, the occasion calls for a reconciliation where there is conflict in the family, an opportunity to strengthen the bond that is already built, a perfect occasion to create more memorable memories, and a time to leave piles of work at offices and just be home eating, playing, talking, laughing with family, friends and neighbours-- a get-together where people share their busy life with each other, especially those who don’t meet often because of work and other responsibilities. Just a wonderful day to relax, go someplace else and unwind."

She just summarised what others said, didn't she? (Thinking emoji)

That's how we feel about Raksha Bandhan, dear readers. We hope you feel the same.

Snooplay family wishes you a Happy Raksha Bandhan! May your bond with your siblings strengthen with time. Thank you for reading and enjoy the holiday!


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