Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Rujuta's Post

Traditions & Celebrations
By: Rujuta Munshi

This weekend, I had a Rakshabandhan celebration at my house. We invited three other families and then all the sisters tied the bracelets on the brothers’ wrist. Then we had a potluck, watched Phelps swimming and one of my friends stayed for a sleepover.

Rakshabandhan is a celebration where the sister ties a bracelet also called a rakhi on her brother’s hand and then feeds her brother a sweet. In return, the brother gives his sister a present and feeds her a sweet. Rakshabandhan symbolizes the bond between brothers and sisters. In addition, they promise to take care of each other and help each other when they need it. Rakshabandhan is celebrated in August on the full moon day. This year Rakshabandhan was on Saturday the 16th.

What are traditions and festivals you and your family celebrate? Which ones do you like the best and why?

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice post Rujuta. Since I am indian like you I also celebrate rakshabandan. A nice short way to call it is rakhi. My sister tied me one and I had to give her fifty one whole dollars! Right after she tied the bracelet I had Tae Kwon Do. In tae kwon do we can't have bracelets or any thing like that so I had to take it off. But when were in India we had a pooja where we got another sting tied around our hand but this one I am aloud to wear in Tae Kvon Do because it is plain,no charms or anything. A pooja is where we worship hindu gods. It can also be an name.

Chrissy said...

Thanks for such an interesting topic Rujuta! I also appreciate your detailed response Vibhu. I've already learned something new! I like this Rakhi (proper noun!!!) celebration because it keeps brothers and sisters close to each other. My brother (common noun) and I used to fight all the time growing up, but it is nice to have a close relationship with him now. We might have been more respectful towards each other if we celebrated Rakhi. My family doesn't really celebrate many traditions like this, but they sure sound like fun!

Anonymous said...

Rujuta, I also celebrate RakshaBhandan. I tied a rakhi to my brother to. I got a rakhi that is like a chain. My brither gave me a watch I wanted for such a long time. I hoped everybody who celebrates RakshaBhandhan had a wonderful time. [Brothers, too!]

Anonymous said...

Yay!Go girls!(sorry boys)They get the presents! I think the topic is very interesting, Rujuta. The rakshabandan holiday sounds like fun!

Anonymous said...

Since I am chinese, we celerate chinese new year. We get red pockets that have money inside. We usally get together with my cosins and eat dinner at a restraunt. My grandfather from my mom's side gives us each one onehundred dollor bill. On chinese new year, we wear red. My favorite holiday is Christmas because we decorate trees and recive presents. I like the part when we drive to L.A to celebrate Christmas and I get to play with my cousins. They have a guitar hero Wii and a wii. We play together. My mom makes salmon and my uncle make potato. My older cousins love the potatos because they taste like french fries. There are many other foods too.

Anonymous said...

Hi Rujuta,I also celebrate Raksabandhan.I am an only child so I send a rakhi to my cousin brother exept this year I didn't have time to make one.

Anonymous said...

Rujuta,I also celebrate rakshabandan. I don't have any brothers. When I was in India I tied one to my baby cousin. For a present he gave me some money.

Anonymous said...

Since I am Chinese I celebrate Chinese New Year. Some times I celebrate Chrismas. My dad bought me a very fun robot that can talk to you and move like as if it was a real person. I celebrate Fourth Of July. I like this holiday because I like watching the fireworks. They look really nice because there are lots of colors. These are the holidays I celebrate.