Raksha Bandhan-celebrates the everlasting vows that strengthen the bond between a brother and sister. In return for the promise to protect her through the ups and downs of life, a sister ties a rakhi on her brother’s wrist, signifying a belief that the sacred thread will protect him from all evil. The day is a celebration of this beautiful bond, and is is incomplete without gorging on sweet delicacies, all of them delicious and enriched with ghee, milk, and sugar.
While sweets are a major part of any festival, they come with a huge amount of empty calories. Of course, occasions like Raksha Bandhan are meant for fun and sharing quality moments with family, and not to spend time pondering over our fitness regime. However, this need not mean that you waste all your efforts to get fit at one go. You don’t have to give up on your favourite sweets to stay healthy, rather celebrate it guilt-free, with these sweets:
Multi-grain laddu
Junk the calorie-laden laddus this Rakhi, and opt for a healthy alternative. Can laddus be missed out on, when it comes to celebrations? Of course not. So, this Raksha Bandhan, junk those unnecessary high-calories and dig into multi-grain laddus instead.
You can prepare these laddus with wholesome jowar or ragi instead of refined flour, and use coconut sugar instead of empty calories.
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Date and fig barfis
Fig barfi. (Representative image) Kaju Burfi is a mouth-watering classic Indian sweet prepared with cashews, thickened milk, and lots of sugar. But , cashews add a significant amount of fat and calories to this mithai, making it a bit unhealthy for you. For a healthy alternative, replace cashews with figs or dates and use coconut sugar instead of white or refined sugar for a dessert recipe that is healthier and tastier.
Chocolates Or Jewellery? Find The Perfect Raksha Bandhan Gift For Your Sister
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With Raksha Bandhan just around the corner (August 26), one of the biggest anxieties for every brother is finding the perfect gift.
Because let’s admit it, picking the ideal gift for a sister is a Herculean task, thanks to the wide range of options available. From a box of chocolates to an elegant piece of jewellery, trying to figure out what she will love best is not easy.
To help make your task simpler, here's a gifting guide that is sure to win her over.
With Raksha Bandhan just around the corner (August 26), one of the biggest anxieties for every brother is finding the perfect gift.
Because let’s admit it, picking the ideal gift for a sister is..
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There's nothing more girls, most of them, love more than a luxe skincare regime. So trust us, your sister is going to hug you tight when she sees this grooming set . A beautifully packed Body Shop hamper with body lotions, shower gels, creams, fragrances and face masks is sure to win your sister’s heart.
There's nothing more girls, most of them, love more than a luxe skincare regime. So trust us, your sister is going to hug you tight when she sees this grooming set . A beautifully packed Body Shop ..
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Two things most girls are very cautious about are skin and hair. So why not get them something that which will cater to both the needs.
Kama Ayurveda’s ‘The Essential’s Box’ packages bath and body essentials. Hair cleansers, moisturisers, conditioners and soaps - it's been handpicked by the experts, so you know you won't go wrong.
Price: Rs 2500 (approx)
(Image: Kama Ayurveda)
Two things most girls are very cautious about are skin and hair. So why not get them something that which will cater to both the needs.
Kama Ayurveda’s ‘The Essential’s Box’ packages bath and bo..
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You can never go wrong with perfumes. And a girl can never have to many perfumes in her closet. Getting your sister a good cologne for Raksha Bandhan is a foolproof idea.
French Fragrances from Titan, priced from Rs 1395 onwards, can be an excellent pick.
(Image: Titan)
You can never go wrong with perfumes. And a girl can never have to many perfumes in her closet. Getting your sister a good cologne for Raksha Bandhan is a foolproof idea.
French Fragrances from ..
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If you've seen your sister collecting necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings, the ideal gift for her would be accessories to add to her collection. Ayesha Accessories offers a range of elegant and chic jewellery pieces that are sure to make a statement.
Price: Rs 209 onwards
(Image: Ayesha Accessories)
If you've seen your sister collecting necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings, the ideal gift for her would be accessories to add to her collection. Ayesha Accessories offers a range of elegant an..
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For the sister who loves pretty little things, look for something out of the box for her room. A 'Dress Up' tabletop key holder, or a mirror and drawer set for her dresser, can be an interesting options. Decor Kart offers a range of elegant pieces that she's sure to love.
Price: Rs 650- 4200
(Image: The Decor Kart)
For the sister who loves pretty little things, look for something out of the box for her room. A 'Dress Up' tabletop key holder, or a mirror and drawer set for her dresser, can be an interesting o..
Ragi Kesari Kesari is a popular South Indian sweet, known for its rich taste. It is prepared using rava or ground wheat with ghee and white sugar. In order to give it a healthy punch without compromising on its taste, use unrefined ragi for the base and choose jaggery as a natural sweetener. Replacing unhealthy ingredients will ensure that the Kesari's famed flavour is maintained while giving it a healthier punch.
Who doesn’t love gulab jamuns? These small, fried balls of skimmed milk dipped in sugar syrup, are a treat for the sweet tooth but they can be loaded with bad calories. Here is a healthy and simple idea to enjoy gulab jamuns without any guilt. Bake gulab jamuns instead of frying them, and then soak them in a jaggery syrup, which will reduce the amount of oil and refined sugar.
These desserts are not just delicious but also have the added advantage of being healthy and easy on the stomach. Considering sweets are a major part of Indian festivities, you can indulge in them without any second thoughts.
So, this Raksha Bandhan, surprise your relatives with these sumptuous yet nutritious sweets, and enjoy a guilt-free celebration.
- The author is a celebrity nutritionist and dietician.
Raksha Bandhan 2017: A Family Affair for Bollywood
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There is no festival that Bollywood doesn't celebrate with equal zeal and passion. Be it Diwali, Eid or Raksha Bandhan!
While Bollywood has had many movies celebrating this bond, our stars go all out on this occasion to flaunt their love for each other.
Saif Ali Khan has two sisters, Soha Ali Khan (left) and Saba Ali Khan. While Saif and Soha are both actors and enjoy the limelight, the other Khan sibling, Saba, is a jewellery designer. The siblings often take holidays together and post animated pictures on social media.
In Pic: Soha Ali Khan is seen tying Rakhi to brother Saif Ali Khan.
(Image: Instagram/SohaAliKhan)
There is no festival that Bollywood doesn't celebrate with equal zeal and passion. Be it Diwali, Eid or Raksha Bandhan!
While Bollywood has had many movies celebrating this bond, our stars go all ou..
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The three Kapoors definitely make for a good-looking picture. From left, Ranbir, Karishma and Kareena seen living it up. While Ranbir and Kareena continue to enthrall audiences with their cinematic performances, it is older sibling Karishma who paved the way for filmdom for the younger siblings.
(Image: Instagram/therealkarishmakapoor)
The three Kapoors definitely make for a good-looking picture. From left, Ranbir, Karishma and Kareena seen living it up. While Ranbir and Kareena continue to enthrall audiences with their cinematic p..
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On this Raksha Bandhan, Abhishek Bachchan wished sister Shweta Bachchan Nanda in the most adorable way possible. "I'm pretty sure she still thinks I'm that same size and age.... But am also sure that she will always be there for me, as I will for her. #happyrakhi Shwetdi. Love you. P.S. I have 3 other sisters who do the same, but they will kill me if I post childhood photos of them. Actually, now that I think of it my sister is going to have the same reaction!! Remember girls it's RAKSHAbandhan, he wrote.
(Image: Instagram/bachchan)
On this Raksha Bandhan, Abhishek Bachchan wished sister Shweta Bachchan Nanda in the most adorable way possible. "I'm pretty sure she still thinks I'm that same size and age.... But am also sure that..
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Despite belonging to a famous family, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni chose to stay away from the arclights. She is a successful jewellery designer and is married to industrialist Bharat Sahni. She loves her younger brother to the pits and more often than not posts about Ranbir's upcoming movies on social media. Ranbir has said in most interviews that Riddhima has always been a big support for him and he absolutely dotes on his niece.
(Image: Instagram/riddhimakapoorsahni)
Despite belonging to a famous family, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni chose to stay away from the arclights. She is a successful jewellery designer and is married to industrialist Bharat Sahni. She loves her y..
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Harshvardhan Kapoor, the youngest son of Anil Kapoor, is said to be close to his sister Rhea than to his elder sibling Sonam. While the 25-year-old actor has the names of both his sisters tattooed on his back, he says, his rapport with Rhea is better than with Sonam, The reason being Sonam is like an elder sister, while Rhea is a friend who is critical and honest about his work.
In Pic: Rhea Kapoor (left), Harshvardhan Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor (right).
(Image: Instagram/sonamkapoor)
Harshvardhan Kapoor, the youngest son of Anil Kapoor, is said to be close to his sister Rhea than to his elder sibling Sonam. While the 25-year-old actor has the names of both his sisters tattooed on..
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.economictimes.com.)
