What do you love the most about Raksha Bandhan? Donning the prettiest dupattas, the family puja, congregation of siblings, tying the sacred thread around your brother’s wrist or the lovely gifts the brothers give for a change?!
But let’s face it, 2020 is anything but ‘routine’. While most of us are geographically away from our brothers, the others are resisting the itch to meet their relatives. That’s when we thought – let’s make Rakhi all about memories, nostalgia, and bonding this time around.
So sisters, pull up your sleeves, get ready to turn the tables, and surprise your brothers this year with these five heartfelt gifts –
1) Custom t-shirts that’ll make him laugh (& miss you more)
MensXP Shop
While lamps and photo frames have entered the list of ‘redundant’ Rakhi gifts in this digital age, it’s time to take the road less travelled and gift him a customized T-shirt!
After a great deal of surfing & researching, we feel the premium Organic and Supima cotton t-shirts on MensXP Shop are a great bet. For starters, they’re long-lasting, super-soft and comfy. And secondly, you can get up to 30 characters printed on them (at no extra cost!).
So whether you feel it is the time to let your brother know that he’s the ‘2nd Favourite Child’ or just a ‘Bhai-yankar’ sibling, you can get your feelings immortalised in words in easy steps.
I’m picking two custom t-shirts for my younger brother. It makes for a super unique Rakhi gift and will deliver love, laughter and a big hug with every use!
2) Make A Nostalgic Digital Album
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The simplest & most effective way to say ‘I love you brother’ is a digital album. Collect your favourite pictures, add some nostalgic captions, and a song that represents your bond – you’re done!
This no-hassle album brings the best of hard work, effort, memories and nostalgia to the table. In fact, it might leave your dear brother teary-eyed too!
Digital not your cup of tea? No problem! Turn up the nostalgia with some old school scrapbook-style photo album for a 3D gift he can hold and embrace in your absence. And these only get sweeter with time.
3) Online gifts – but with our secret ingredient!
MensXP Shop
While most of us are scouting for Rakhi gifts for brothers over the web, make yours stand out by adding a gift note. How, you ask? A lot of items on the MensXP Shop come with the ‘gift note’ feature – resembling a miniature note. It’s the perfect mix of trendy and old school, isn’t it?
After getting some of my guy friends to weigh in on this with their perspective, I’ve made a list of gifts that are made only sweeter with a personal note – gifts you just can’t go wrong with!
(a) Maroon leather Havana guitar strap
(b) A leather money clip and belts combo
4) Gifts that reflect childhood memories
MensXP Shop
Flashback to my childhood days – I recall a lot of legos, hot wheels, car racing in the living room, and things like that. And my brother and I compared our stashes and then fought over it!
While my tastes changed, my brother continues to be an action figure collector and a huge automobile fan. If your sibling falls in the same category, get him these classy, miniature automobile models. Small in size but big in value, they could be a great home desk accessory or just a great throwback memory. Additionally, these wooden models are the ideal upgrade for his bedside table too.
5) For the lucky ones who are together, rustle up a delish meal!
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The joy of cooking a hearty meal with your brother is unparalleled. It’s not always easy but it never ceases to be fun. No questions asked.
Right from deciding the dishes to collecting recipes and chopping the veggies, the experience has ‘bonding’ written all over it. In fact, you can get the sous-chef a chic kitchen set which includes an apron, a potholder, breadbasket and mittens.
I mean, what fun is cooking without fancy accessories, right? Especially now, when you want you have to cook daily.
And if like me, you want to go the extra mile, bring in the rock-line casserole or glimmer galaxy spoons to make the Rakhi meal unforgettable!
A day is not nearly enough to celebrate the sibling bond but a thoughtful Rakhi gift for your brother or sister can go a long way in making it special! Don’t let COVID-19 play spoilsport on this special day – celebrate your beautiful bond, no matter where your brother is. And head over to MensXP Shop for a closer look at some of these options or other cool things for a different festive gifting experience.
