Well with Rakhi around the corner, one is sure to notice those colorful strings mostly red, pink and ruby hanging at each shop. It reminds me of POPs (Point of Purchase); those stuffs which you would unmistakably find at the counter of each shop, like toffees and lip balms, leading you to make an impulsive decision: to buy or not to buy.
Rakhis have seen a distinctive change over time. I remember seeing rakhis the shape of which were huge flowers cut out of silver and gold paper mounted on sponge with a string jutting out. I guess the notion which they accompanied was - the bigger the rakhis, the more love you had for your brother! Well notions aside, i would be overjoyed at the sight of those rakhis. Come Rakhi Purnima and the guys in our locality would be seen roaming with long vermilion "tikas" on their forheads and those huge 'flowers' on their wrists, nothing short of some armoured heroes!!
It was during those times i desperately wished i was a boy. why? because i too wanted a rakhi like that tied on my wrist.
But Daddy dearest did not disappoint me. While returning from office the previous evening, he would buy the largest 'flower' rakhi for me. And the next day evening, (morning was school-time, so had to wait for the evening), i would also put on the 'biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig tika' and ask mom to tie the rakhi. Homework and play took a back seat on those special days.
Today, rakhis have also followed 'the smaller, the better' way. One would not be surprised to see rakhis in shape of mere colourful strings with a bead ot two in between. It would be all the more easy for those heroes of our brothers to shove them inside full sleeved shirts. Had rakhis the eyes, the tongue and the ears, they would be aghast to see their mighty GenX siblings in such bad health!
But nonetheless, the meaning has remained the same, the feeling uncoloured by vice. Of course i dont look forward to wearing those rakhis anymore but do have to buy them for three of my brothers - Titu, Goutam and Rahul.
Till my next blogging, have a happy rakhi shopping!!
