Rakshabandhan, every year, arrives like a joyful reminder that the most magical time of the year is here – the festival season, stretching from August to November. This year, it will run right through October.

As I slowly begin to notice the strands of grey in my hair, this time of year also brings a rush of memories.

Memories from school days of making rakhis by hand in SUPW class – silk threads wrapped around bangles, brushed out for a good thirty minutes to get that perfect fluffy look. The aromas drifting from the kitchen, where festive delicacies were being prepared at home.

When we were young, the instructions were simple: bathe early, dress in your best clothes. If there was a test coming up, there were gentle reminders to study a little in the morning – the rest of the day would be too busy. But when the smell of hot pooris frying in the kadhai reached our rooms, it pulled us toward the kitchen like a magnet.

We’d quickly shut our books, rush in, and ask Mom excitedly, “What else are you making?”

As we grew older, we graduated from just eating to helping – tasting the dishes, stirring the kadhi, chopping coriander, or setting the table. But the real fun was in lifting the lids of the casserole dishes on the dining table to find chhole, paneer garnished with coriander, jeera rice, and Mom’s homemade kheer – the best in the world – dishes that didn’t just please the eyes but filled the heart too.

If I say kitchens are the heartbeat of Indian festivals, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration. Back then, Mama and Bua would make the effort to come home, and festivals turned into full-blown celebrations. Their arrival meant one thing: no scolding, no studies, great food, and unlimited fun. Those were the days that made memories – of laughter, chaos, warmth, and that unbeatable feeling of togetherness.

Now, in our cities, Rakshabandhan has largely turned into rakhis sent via Amazon or Instamart, and greetings exchanged over the phone. Thankfully, a few family members still live in the same city, and we make it a point to meet, share a hearty lunch, laugh, and take the mandatory pictures.

And then there’s the one thing that still connects all of us – the family WhatsApp group. We share our Rakshabandhan pictures there, everyone smiling and decked up.

It feels like we’re still close, and the happiness from that day gets shared again and again for the next two months. After all, family WhatsApp groups aren’t that bad.

Because in the end, festivals aren’t just dates on a calendar – they’re the threads that keep us woven together.