By BIPIN DANI
This year our beloved are not all at home celebrating the festival of Raksha Bandhan, but each of them carries the spirit of the festival.
Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma has no real sister but her cousin sister Gayatri Sharma never forgets to remember him on this auspicious day.
“Before this pandemic, I and my other sisters, including Rohit, used to celebrate this day every year. But for the last two years, which are terrible, we have been celebrating it online. We share greetings with each other. Even with our family members we enjoy the day together”.
Shreyas Iyer
“Shreyas Iyer is out most of the time on this day but I make sure that we speak to each other on this day. This year also, he is away for the IPL duty”, says Shresta, who too is a professional choreographer.
The duo shares a great bond with each other.
“Last year India’s top-order batsman and Delhi Capitals captain was at home owing to the Corona pandemic and I could tie a rakhi on this day after about 6-7 years. It is always nice to have fun with him”.
A video of Sresta and Shreyas playing a hide-n-seek game became very popular.on social media (photograph attached).
“He has brought glory to the nation and which sister would not have been proud of him? He is a great motivator and inspires me a lot”, she added.
Ravindra Jadeja
Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has two sisters-Naina and Padmini. Both will miss their brother on this day of Raksha Bandhan. Jadeja is a member of the Indian squad playing Test series in England.
“Ruefully he will not be here this year also, but we are used to it because his absence on many such festivals have become very common”, the elder sister Naina. says from Jamnagar.
“We offer his rakhi to the Goddess in the temple and then the same is tied to Lord Ganesha”.
“We don’t expect gifts from him on this day. Playing for the country is the biggest gift he has given to us and we pray for his success on the field of play”, the sister added.
Harmanpreet Kaur
The captain of India’s women team in the shortest format Harman Preet Kaur may not be able to tie rakhi to her brother Gurjinder Singh, informs her father Harmander Singh Bhullar.
“We are in Moga (Punjab) and Harmpan lives in Patiala. She has been asked to
join a camp in Bangalore. The Indian cricket board has asked all women players to report there on Sunday”, the father says.
“My son will miss his other sister also. Hemjeet Kaur lives in Canada”.
Deepti Sharma
Indian women’s team all-rounder Deepati Sharma is in England participating in The Hundred tournament but her brother Bala and four other brothers will not be rakhi-less on their wrists this year.
“We are five brothers and two sisters. Will miss Deepti this year but our other sister Pragati will tie her and Deepti’s rakhis to all of us”.
“Raksha Bandhan is a festival of unconditional love between brothers and sisters and we celebrate it every year and will be no exception this year also”.
“Every year we take our sisters to the mall and give them the gifts of their choice. Deepti has been choosing sports watches, sports shoes etc and we never say no to their demands”, the brother added.
“We were very happy when she was invited to ring the customary f-minute bell before the commencement of the 4th day’s play at Lord’s”.
Pragyan Ojha
India’s former spinner Pragyan Ojha lives in a joint family and they all celebrate the festival every year.
“We try to be at home on Raksha Bandhan as it is a celebration of a special bond between a brother and sister. But because of our profession, if one of us is travelling, we catch up and celebrate virtually. Thanks to the technology”, he said.
“Siblings have a very unique way of staying together. From the outside it may look like we don’t care or like each other but as they say “BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER” we are always there for each other”.
“Suchismita, Subhasmita, Swayam, Surya, Gayatri, Prakaswini, Siddartha, Ipsita
Suprava are my first cousins and we really enjoy all festivals”.
Mithali Raj
Mithali Raj tied Rakhi to her elder brother Mithun when she was three. It is not a holiday on this day and because of Mithali’s tight schedule we hardly get a chance to celebrate this festival”, the brother said.
Suresh Raina
Like many other cricketers in England and in the UAE (for the IPL), Suresh Raina too will miss her sister on this day this year but he went to the UAE with a rakhi on his hand, according to his brother, Dinesh Raina.
“We four brothers (Mukesh, Naresh, Dinesh and Suresh) have only one sister (Renu) and we have already celebrated this festival a few days in advance. Before Suresh went to Chennai and the UAE, arranged a small get together at home and celebrated the day”, Dinesh Raina said.
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