Raksha Bandhan, often romanticised as a festival celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters, at its core reinforces a dated patriarchal idea — that women are weak and in need of male protection. Traditionally, a sister ties a rakhi to her brother’s wrist, and in return, the brother pledges to protect her.
But protect her from what, and why?
In today’s world, women are no longer confined to the margins. They are educated, trained in martial arts, lead nations, run businesses, and are financially independent. They don’t need protection — they need respect, equality, and recognition. To continue a ritual that symbolically puts women in a position of vulnerability only serves to subtly (or not so subtly) perpetuate the belief that women are inherently less capable.
Why must a woman’s safety be outsourced to her brother? Can she not be the protector — of herself, of her loved ones, even of society at large?
Festivals must evolve or be questioned. If Raksha Bandhan continues to exist, perhaps it needs to transform — from one of protection to one of mutual respect and solidarity between siblings, regardless of gender.
Otherwise, it risks being just another annual ritual drenched in sentimentality, masking the uncomfortable truth: that beneath the sugar-coated celebration lies a quietly misogynistic message.