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India is a country of festivals. It is culturally so rich that it celebrates a festival almost every month. The people of India are so lively that they find a reason or the other for celebrations. One of such reasons is the sweet and sour relationship between a brother and a sister. Though brothers and sisters share and enjoy the bond of love between them throughout the year but Rakhi is the day when they get an opportunity to express their tender love and feelings towards each other. The Rakhi day is an opportunity for them to commemorate their loving memories, loyalty, closeness, trust and friendship that is lasting and true.

Raksha Bandhan is celebrated every year on ‘Shravan Purnima’ (Full Moon Day of the Hindu month of Shravan), which generally falls in the month of August. On the holy day of Rakhi the sisters tie a sacred piece of thread (Known as Rakhi or ‘Raksha-Sutra’) on the wrist of their brothers. Then they sweeten each others mouths with delicious and mouth-watering sweets. The festival of Rakhi also includes a tradition of offering gifts to sisters by the brothers.

Rakhi 2008 : will be celebrated on 16th August 2008
Rakhi 2009 : will be celebrated on 05th August 2009

R . A . K . H . I
R : Relationship
A : Affection
K : Knitting together
H : Him (Brother) & Her (Sister)
I : Interminably

Put them all together, they spell ” RAKHI”. Happy Rakhi to all you brothers and sisters!!!

Ingredients:
Rice Grains 4 Cups
Sugar 3 Cups
Ghee 5 tbsp
Cardamom 4
Cashew nuts 10-12
Raisin 10-12
Saffron 1/4 tsp

Method :
Wash the rice grains and leave it in the water in a pot.
After 1 hour strain rice grains.
Take ghee in a cooker and heat it.
Add cardamom powder, sugar, raisin, cashew nuts, saffron and the rice grains.
Finally pour 5 cups water in the cooker and wait till it whistles twice.
Serve hot saffron sweet rice to your brother and family.

Ingredients:
Pumpkin 1 medium size
Milk 1.5 lt
Sugar 1/2 cup
Cardamom powder 1/2 tsp
Cashew nuts 10-12
Saffron 1/4 tsp dissolved in 1 tsp water
Raisin 8-10

Method:
Peel off the pumpkin and grate it well. Squeeze the grated pumpkin and put it aside.
Put the milk in a pan and boil it until it gets thick.
Keep stirring it continuously.
Add sugar to it and after 5-7 mints add the grated pumpkin too.
Cook the mixture for 25 mints at low flame.
Keep stirring the mixture at intervals.
When the pumkin kheer is cooked add cardamom powder, cashew nuts, saffron and raisin.

Ingredients:
Pears 1kg
Sugar 1/2kg
Coconut powder 1/2kg
Cardamom powder 4 tsp
Cashew nuts 5 tbsp
Red Cherry

Method:
Peel off all the pears.
Take water in a pot and add some salt to it.
Then put all the pears in this water for 10 mints.
Then grate them all and remove the extra water by squeezing the grated pears.
Take 1 cup water in a pan and add the sugar and prepare sugar syrup by heating it.
Then mix the grated pear into it and simmer it for next 15-20 mints.
Then cool it and add cardamom powder and half of the coconut powder to it.
Make laddoos of the mixture and roll it into the rest half of coconut powder.
Decorate all the laaddoos by putting some red cherries on top of each one.

Ingredients:
Apples 2
Orange 1
Pine-Apple 1/2
Black-Grapes 1 bowl
Cashew-nuts 10-12
Almond 10-12
Cocoa powder 2 tbsp
Sugar 1/2 cup
Curd 1/2kg

Method:
Put the curd in a piece of cloth and hang it for 45 mints till the water seeps out.
Then add sugar and cocoa powder and beat it well. Peel off the fruits.
Grate the apples and the pineapples.
Mix all the fruits in the curd paste.
Keep it in the fridge.
While serving decorate it with cashew nuts and almonds.

Ingredients:
Wheat flour 2 cups
Barley flour 1/2 cup
Besan 1/2 cup
Rava 1/2 cup
Ghee 4 tbsp
Cumin seeds 1/2 tsp
Salt According to taste

Method :
To prepare a batter for making chapatis take the flours, besan, rava, ghee, cumin seeds and salt in a tray and mix it all with the help of water.
When the batter is ready make chapatis in the tandoor. Before serving rub ghee on the chapatis.

Ingredients:
Arbee 1/2kg
Potato 1/4kg
Paneer 1/4kg
Cornfluor 2 tbsp
Ginger 1″ piece finely chopped
Green Chillies 6-7 finely chopped
Coriander leaves finely chopped
Amchur 1 tsp
Red chilli powder 1 tsp
Roasted Cumin seeds powder 1/2 tsp
Salt According to taste
Oil to deep fry

Method:
Peel off the arbi and cut into small pieces.
Deep fry in the oil.
Mash it when it is little hot.
Boil the potatos and mash it too.
Grate the paneer and mix it with mashed potato and arbi.
Add corianer leaves, green chilli, ginger, salt, cumin seeds powder and cornflour.
Mix all the ingredients well and prepare small pieces in the shape of cutlets.
Heat the oil in a pan and fry all the cutlets.

One of the colors of the rainbow of Indian festivals, Raksha Bandhan holds a special significance in the Indian culture. Rakhi stands for the chaste and subtle bond of love and affection bond between a brother and a sister. This festival is one of the few festivals of India that indulges very deeply into the minds and emotions of every Indian
On the day of Raksha Bandhan the sisters get up early and after taking bath start preparing special rakhi delicacies for their loving brothers. Here we have complied few easy recipes for Rakhi.

Sisters are very sensitive and emotional beings. They love to get presents from their brothers. They do not care for the cost of the present. To them, a single rose that you give them with a smile is much better than any jewellery item. For them it is the thought that really matter.

When you are picking Rakhi gifts for your sister, it is always best to keep her personality and her choice in mind. We have provided few of the rakhi gift ideas that will probably help you to select some gift which you can send them to your sisters in India. With the internet age sending gifts to India can be done at the click of a mouse.

Cards:
You can very effectively express your feelings towards your sister with the help of a card. The contents in the cards are so well written that it matches your feelings and without making extra efforts you can express yourself.
Apparels-Sarees, Jeans, Toppers:
You can select a dress material from any showroom according to the taste and choice of your sister. The fabric must be selected according to the season.
Chocolates packs:
Generally chocolates are a favorite item of girls of all the age groups. You can choose any of the different shapes of chocolates to sweeten the occasion even more.
Jewellery: Bracelets, rings, ear-rings, chains, buckles, nose-pins.
Any one of these items could be a good gift item for her. While selecting you must go for the latest designs.
Photo Frames:
This is an item which helps you capture the beautiful and memorable moments of your life.
Ladies handbags:
These bags are a useful item for your sisters. You can help them add one more latest and stylish handbag in their collection.
Perfumes:
Perfumes should be chosen as per the choice of your sister. Some may like strong odor while others may like light odor.
Soft Toys:
Soft and stuffed toys are a good medium of expressing your tender feelings for your sister.
Wrist Watches:
Your sister might have got bored of repeating the same old wrist-watch everywhere. It is time to make her happy by presenting her a new and stylish one.
Quotations:
The show pieces with beautiful designs and carrying some special message for sister is another wonderful gift item for your sister. Through these items let her know how much you care for her.

With time traditions and customs associated with Rakhi have changed quite a bit. Earlier the brothers use to send gifts to their loving sisters but with changing times, even sisters like to send return gifts to their brothers as their token of love. Sending return gifts to brothers in India has become quite a trend.

So here are some of the Rakhi return gift ideas that you might use to please your brother and show him how much you love and care for him. Read and pick up a gift that suits your brother’s personality.

Shirts:
Be it formal or casual wear, shirts are another cool gift item. Please your brother by adding some more choice to his wardrobe.
Show pieces:
Your brother will be impressed by your choice of a beautiful show pieces made of terracotta, wood, stone or glass, reflecting your affection for him.
Cufflinks:
Let your brother know how much you care for him by presenting him beautiful cufflinks this time.
Leather belts:
Leather belts in different designs and with a modern look will make your brother look different in the crowd. The locks in these belts are also very stylish.
Wallets:
A new spacious wallet with more pockets will help your brother keep his things carefully.
Cameras:
Photo camera will help your brother enrich his creativity and innovative ideas.
Mobile handsets:
Latest mobile handsets have more and more new features like camera, polyphonic ring tones, internet and storing movies capacity. Let him have one of these trendy handsets.
Mp3 Remix songs, Ghazals or Pop albums:
Your brother has interest in music then a latest private album or a collection of dance-numbers or a latest ghazals collection is the best choice to present him.
Pens and Pen stands:
There are so sleek, light weight and good quality pens which can be a good gift item for anyone. Pen stand will help your brother in not losing the pens any more.
Books:
If your brother has interest in reading nothing can be a better gift for him other than a book. It could be story book, fiction, non-fiction or any special issue of magazines.