DIY Rakhi Ideas

What better way to kick off rakhi than have the kids make their own. Here are some easy ideas on how to make your own rakhi.

Supplies:

• Embroidery thread
• Ribbon
• Beads
• Puffy stickers
• Buttons
• Glue gun

How to:

• Keep it super simple and fun for the kids and family
• Cut string and/or ribbon into the small strips and lay them out. We use different colors so everyone can pick the colors they want
• Put out a tray of buttons, puffy stickers, beads, and anything else fun you can make bracelets with (small lego pieces, cutouts, etc.)
• Assign an adult to be in charge of the glue gun
• Have some samples for show so people know what to do

WHAT WE DID WITH OUR KIDS:

• Buy the Melissa & Doug bead set and put it out for the kids to make rakhis
• Instead of indian sweets, we put jelly bellies in a bowl (or put your sons favorite candy)
• We bought simple gifts or envelope of money for brothers to give to sisters 
• Arranged gifts/envelopes, candy/sweets and rakhi on a thali or plate with a diya/candle, and Ganesh
• Served Indian take out food (yums)!

 

Some OTHER ideas:

The Thread of Love: Happy Rakhi

Raksha Bandhan (Rakhi) celebrates the love between brothers and sisters. The main custom of Rakhi is a sister tying a threaded bracelet the giving of a bracelet of woven threads called a rakhi on her brother. The "rakhi" represents the sister's promise to pray for her brother and the brother's vow to protect his sister. The sister provides sweets to her brother and the brother gives his sister money.

How can you celebrate Rakhi in a very easy, simple, meaningful way?

• Invite family over. We love an excuse to wear Indian clothes...so we always make it Indian themed.
• Buy the rakhi or make sure someone is bringing the rakhi. You can buy it below or at your local Indian store. We love making our own rake...it is a fun project and tradition for the kids (instructions below)
• Get Indian take out. Some of our favorite places for takeout are Pakhwan, Shalimar and Naan 'n Curry.
• Get small gifts or money envelopes if you are a brother or if you have sons.
• Get burfees, sweets or even candy to feed your brother.
• Keep it simple and fun!

What is the history of Raksha Bandhan?

There are many stories and tales about the Rakhi in Hindu and Indian history. It became popular in the 1500s after a widowed queen name Rani Karnavati sent a Rakhi to the Mughal Emperor asking for help in defending her city. After this event, sisters would offer a Rakhi to their brothers as a reminder that they should protect their sisters from foreign invaders. 

Fun Facts:

• The word Raksha means protection. The brother promises to protect his sister.
• The word Bandhan means "to tie" or "bond". The sister ties the rakhi around her brother's wrist.
• It is thought that the protection offered by the rakhi lasts for one year. So the festival and ceremony must be repeated each year.