Although an Indian festival, Raksha bandhan is also celebrated in other countries around the world. Rakhi celebrates the unique relation shared by brother and sister.

ON THIS day, a sister ties a rakhi (symbol of unbreakable love) on her brother’s wrist, while the brother promises to protect his sister throughout her life. Rakhi is celebrated with great enthusiasm in India, and also in other countries where Hindu population resides.

Nepal, the only Hindu country in the world, also celebrates Rakhi with full fervour. The celebrations are almost the same as in India; they begin with tying of rakhi on brother’s arm, and is followed by a grand feast.

Some of the Gulf countries also celebrate Rakhi, thanks to the Indian people who have moved to these countries because of their jobs and introduced the concept.

Though not celebrated by the natives, the Hindu communities residing in these countries make sure that the festival gets its due importance. People of other Indian communities, which originally don’t have a Rakhi culture, also join their compatriots living abroad in the celebrations.

With more and more Indians moving abroad, mainly because of their jobs, the Rakhi culture is also gaining recognition in the west. The festival is celebrated in various parts of Europe and Australia. The Hindu community living in these continents gather at one place and celebrate Rakhi. Since Rakhi sutra is not easily available in the foreign markets, girls prefer buying wrist bands and bracelets for their brothers.