The Indian festival of Rakshabandan – the festival celebrating sibling love was observed in mid August. This year we had a very special celebration.

Very special 2022 Rakshabandan Celebration

Family had flown in from all over the world (UK, India and Kenya) to attend our daughter’s wedding this year. These cousins for the first time in 30 years got to tie the rakhi bracelet (string bracelet celebrating sibling love) on each other in person! Who knows when this opportunity will come again!

Cousins tie rakhi in Half Moon Bay after decades of mailing one to each other

These young cousins are meeting around Rakshabandan for the first time and tying a rakhi for the first time

I’ve been tying a rakhi on my two California cousins for over two decades 💕

One for cousin Nando.

One for cousin Mahesh

Sister’s rakhi’s

One from Anjali to Sri

Sisters Anika and Kamya exchanging rakhis 💕

Rakhi for the new brother-in-law too 💙

Rakshabandan Celebrating Sibling love 🥰

Pics with the entire family

Selfies and pics 🥰

Time to chill

Dinner is ready

Appetizers of chaat made by Vijay and Priya 😋

Dinner made by me and cousins Uma and Meera

Rakshabandan celebration with the family ❤️

Friends who are like sisters deserve a rakhi too 💕

When you have a friend who is like a sister, we start a new tradition of tying a rakhi on each other. That’s what my friend Rose and I started a few years ago.

This year we were on holiday at Sea Ranch together when Rose surprised me with a handmade rakhi made by her! And she got to tie it at beautiful Sea Ranch by the ocean.