JAIPUR: Be it a 6-year-old girl or a 70-year-old woman, everyone dressed up with the best of their collections to greet their brothers on the occasion of Rakshabandhan.
For a change, people celebrated the festival with sweets, chocolates and homemade delicacies, after almost a year of being tied up at homes because of the pandemic. Sisters tied rakhis on the wrists of their brothers and prayed for their wellbeing. In the evening, markets were choc-a-bloc with people and vehicles.
“Since I am mother of an infant boy, I hardly get time. So, I purchased Rakhi on Sunday only. I took some packets of chocolates for my brother and nephew. I have got one brother and 12 cousins, thus, my day will be hectic. Last year, because of Covid I could not visit any of my brothers despite being married in a family in Jaipur," said Shimona Sharma, a homemaker, who lives in Pratap Nagar.
People enjoyed the festival as Covid-19 cases have dipped drastically. "Last year, we were only making phone calls asking each other to wear mask, wash hands and maintain social distancing. It was a very scary period. But, now things have changed. I have got both my vaccines so has my sister and brother-in-law, that’s why I visited them,” said Neeraj Bhatt, who came from Alwar to celebrate the festival with his sister who stays in Jaipur.
Sweet shops, bakeries or grocery stores selling chocolates gift packs saw good festive business. “It is good to see the same zeal. I hope this continues till Diwali and that would be possible if people continue to get vaccines,” said Narayan Gupta, who owns a grocery store at Vaishali Nagar.
