No FNP or Archies can ever replace this Raksha Bandhan tradition for me

Long-distance relationships are hard. Long-distance siblinghood? Harder. For this 20-something Gen Z woman, staying connected comes with one old-school Rakhi ritual that she believes she will never (and should never) outgrow.Raksha Bandhan is a festival that celebrates the bond of siblings It’s Raksha Bandhan today, and the festive season has officially begun. This also means my brothers have already received something that has somehow survived WhatsApp, Instagram, Reels, and quick commerce.This age-old festival celebrates one of the purest and most unconditional bonds between siblings.But growing up means outgrowing a few things: childhood games, TV remote fights, and dividing Maggi equally because, God forbid, the other gets more. Yet, there’s one ritual I refuse to outgrow.Much like every other festival, with its customs and rituals passed down through generations, I have one of my own too. Every Raksha Bandhan, I write them letters.Yes, real letters. Paper, pen, handwriting and all, for my three long-distance brothers. And I have been at it for the past twenty years. Every year I send out handwritten letters to my brothers on Rakhi. (Photo: Author) Today, the world around us has become faster and more instant, and we have all become digital creatures. We bond over memes, stickers, and Reels. However, no FNP, Archies, or any other online gift service has been able to replace my little ritual.It all started with my grandmother and mother. Growing up, I watched them sit down to write postcards and letters to their siblings who lived miles away. Nothing fancy, just emotions in a few words. My mother encouraged me to do the same when I was old enough to scribble the basics. And I am glad she did.What's it like?Well, this ritual comes with one tiny logistical problem: I can't exactly wait until two-three days before Rakhi. My hunt for the perfect thread design begins almost 15 days before.Why? Because this festive snail mail needs to be sent out well in time.Once I have what I need, I sit down, uncap a pen and begin writing to my brothers. Sometimes I know exactly what I want to say. Sometimes I stare at the page for a while before the nib first touches the paper. Then come a few scribbles and do-overs. There are jokes, memories, complaints, embarrassments and, between all of them, the things that are perhaps easier to write than to say.For me, it's like a confidential space where I express things I probably will never say to them on their face or even in a WhatsApp text. That's the vintage charm of it, I guess. As a child, I saw my father receive letters with rakhis, something he always eagerly waited for. (Photo: Author) In the beginning, I only sent one letter to my two younger cousins. But as we grew older, my own sibling moved out. Then, the envelopes became two. Eventually, my little cousins moved out too. And today, the count of Rakhi envelopes stands at three.What's in my letter?You really thought I would tell you something that private? No TMI.But here's the crux.As a kid, the content was innocent. A cute wish, a drawing of a Rakhi and a message: "Please get them tied by my aunt." And then I would decorate them with some colourful tape and stickers. That was the only template I knew. These letters and rakhis also become like time capsules that siblings hold close. My brother once put it up on his softboard in his hostel room (Photo: Author) But as we all grew up, the details became a little more emotional and a little more simple. Today, I spend more time thinking about them and what I want to convey. For those 20-30 minutes, I don't look up any device, just sit through and contemplate. BTW, did I mention my handwriting has become illegible by the year because who writes any more?Ironically, this may be the most Gen Z thing I do.Very old-school but still very Gen ZGen Z is often dubbed as the generation that is chronically online. And well, where's the lie? With the rise of quick-commerce platforms, even Rakhi has become a last-minute affair for some, with rakhis and sweets arriving at the doorsteps in minutes. It's the little rituals, customs and traditions that make a festival. (Photo: Author) But that online behaviour has also made Gen Z yearn for all things slow and offline. That's exactly why everyone is trying to go back to an analogue way of life, enjoying the pleasure of things that cannot be done with a click.In fact, the idea of having something tangible like a letter to read is what is keeping the trend of snail mail alive too. The day ends when the images of hands tied with rakhis arrive on WhatsApp. (Photo: Pexels) I’ve been doing it for nearly two decades, through school, college, adulthood, and the arrival of a million faster ways to communicate. Yet, this tiny, old-fashioned ritual has survived them all.Maybe that's the point of traditions. They don't have to remain exactly the same. They just have to give you a reason to return to them. However, these traditions don't define our bond. It's beyond all this.Do you have a little ritual of your own?- EndsPublished By: Jigyasa SahayPublished On: Aug 28, 2026 13:17 IST