This Raksha Bandhan, Chennai’s communities are celebrating the people who became family without sharing a surname
Because he was already part of my family,” admits Roshini, at some point, calling him my neighbour felt strange.
Who says you need to share blood to tie a thread around someone’s wrist and call them your brother? Raksha Bandhan may traditionally celebrate siblings, but in Chennai, the bond can stretch beyond family trees, to neighbours, friends and people who have simply been there long enough to become family. This year, the festival is also an opportunity to celebrate those chosen bonds. When neighbours become siblings For Roshini and Ankit, the relationship began with two neighbouring homes in Adyar. What started as childhood playdates eventually became a friendship that has lasted for more than a decade. “We practically grew up in each other’s houses.
Somewhere along the way, the friendship became family,” says Arjun. “She tied one on him and told us that if he was going to behave like my brother all year, he had to do the festival properly too. That kind of relationship deserves to be celebrated too,” says resident Shoba.
Their families became close too, with birthdays, Sunday lunches and festivals often being celebrated together. Raksha Bandhan eventually became another tradition. “Every year, she ties me a rakhi , I give her a gift (usually money) and then end up spending the whole day together. This year, we’re planning a small lunch with both our families,” smiles Ankit. The friends who became family For some, the bond is not rooted in growing up together but in finding a person who gradually becomes a sibling figure. Chennai residents Arjun N, and Kabir, met during college and initially bonded over late-night assignments and shared complaints about exams. Nearly six years later, their families refer to them as brothers. “I was the first person he called when he got his job, and he was the first person I called when my father was unwell. Their Raksha Bandhan tradition began three years ago when Kabir’s sister jokingly insisted that Arjun deserved a rakhi too. Now it has become a tradition,” Kabir adds. This year, the two plan to celebrate with their families over dinner. A community that shows up The idea of chosen family is perhaps most visible within Chennai’s residential communities, where years of living alongside the same people can create relationships that extend far beyond a polite greeting in the lift. In a Velachery apartment complex, residents have turned their annual Raksha Bandhan gathering into a community celebration, with children, neighbours and long-time staff members joining in. “Our building has people who have known our children since they were babies. During difficult times, everyone checks on everyone. This year, the residents are planning to make the celebration bigger, with children tying rakhis, sweets being shared and families coming together for an evening gathering. Everyone is bringing something, and the children are especially excited,” shares Shoba. Written By: Aashna Reddy Looking for trusted parenting advice? Follow TOI Parenting Circle on Instagram for expert guidance, relatable stories, and practical tips delivered every day.
“Last year it was quite informal, but this time we’re putting together a proper celebration.
