I have often wondered why westerners do not celebrate Sister's Day or Brother's day as they so fondly celebrate Mother's Day and Father's Day. Probably, they are so afraid that this might lead to so many brothers and sisters from outside their familiesJ. Trust me, we also fear the same as no one will want a pretty stranger girl saying "Bhaiyya" but that does not deter us from celebrating Raksha Bandhan, a festival signifying the bond that we as brothers and sisters share with each other. This is one unique festival we Indians celebrate and we should dedicate more pages on it than we have been so far.

On this auspicious day of Rakhi, I thought of penning down my heartfelt gratitude and affection for my three dear elder sisters who have been a world to me. Often we attribute our entire success to our parents, rightly though, but we do fail to acknowledge the supporting role that sisters (or brothers) play in shaping up our career, out future, and above all, our life. A major role in my so far little success has been played by my sisters. From giving me those verbal bashings when I deservedly needed to making sure that I do not play too much cricket which hampered my studies to showering love and affection and giving me extra bucks so that I could celebrate my birthday party with my friends like a royal king, my sisters have done it all for me. And so have sisters of all their brothers and vice versa. I have argued with them due to an instinctive ego that we all possess, at times unwanted, but that has never deterred them from showing me the right path.

Being the youngest, in my childhood, I never could comprehend the meaning of Raksha Bandhan in protecting my elder sisters. I often thought, it would make more sense to me protecting my younger sisters (which I never had). Over the years, I have realized that this "Raksha" (protection) is far from what we understand literally. It is an emotional support that sisters need, specially, after they get married and enter an entirely new world. A bond that has an everlasting and soothing effect in times of need, a word of suggestion or advice, that can bring a smile on their faces and a sense of satisfaction in us that we as brothers did something for them.

Today, with the high demands of modern day life, we all are so involved in our immediate families, that often days go by before talking to our sisters. Personally, I feel sisters are the ones who always take the initiative to break the ice and resume the lost communication and more often than not we follow suit. I also feel that sisters are more close to their parents, even after marriages, and if not for the culture we are in where sons proudly stamp their authority of taking care of their parents (even if they don't), our parents would have been very well taken care of by their daughters.

This is a tribute to all sisters of the world (I am happy with my three sweet sistersJ) who are simply admirable, lovable and worthy of lots of their brothers' love. This is also an eye opener for those strained relationships to bury the hatchet and get back to those golden days. Life is too small to continue those differences. We should be thankful to God for being kind to us, unlike to those unfortunate Indians who recently lost their beloved ones in the Hyderabad blasts for no fault of theirs. Most of them might have lost their dear brothers and sisters and I have no words to express my pain. Let us all spare a moment of thought for them.

On this auspicious day, I, like many other brothers, shall not be in person to get the rakhees tied on my wrist and that long teeka applied on my forehead, but this won't dilute the immense love and regards I have for you all... didi(s).

Happy Raksha Bandhan to you didi(s)

Vande Mataram

(Saurabh Saksena is an engineer in a reputed power company in Boston, USA. These are his personal views.)