Raksha Bandhan: From 1980s Letter-Packed Rakhis to 2026's Video-Call Rituals
Raksha Bandhan has always been about one promise - "I will protect you." But the way we make that promise has changed completely. If you grew up listening to your mom's stories from the 80s, you know Rakhi was a very different festival back then. The 1980s Era: Simple, Slow, and Soulful - In the 80s, Raksha Bandhan was a home festival- The Rakhi itself: There were no designer rakhis. It was a simple red thread, sometimes with a small plastic flower or peacock in the center. The same thread was bought from the local market for Rs. 2-5. The value was in the emotion, not the design. The Wait for the Postman: This was the biggest emotion. If a sister was married and lived in another city, she would post the rakhi 10-12 days in advance. The brother would wait for the postman every day. That envelope with a folded letter, a Rs. 51 or Rs. 101 note, and a rakhi inside was pure excitement. The Gift: There was no Amazon Wishlist. The gift was practical. A new suit for the sis...