We’re taking Raksha Bandhan seriously at Homegrown. In an attempt to not let this be yet another festival the girls of the house where wake up early and end up working all day to make a function happen, we hope the brothers put a little more thought into celebrating their sisters; to not be a footsoldier enforcing patriarchal morals and to look beyond the weird psychosocial competition for the parents’ love that siblings sometimes find themselves in. The idea of protection have questionable antiquated roots. What we're aiming for instead, with this gifting guide, is appreciation and loving your sibling the way they wanna be loved.
For all the times she watched her brother stay out late, make questionable decisions and get away easy and generally enjoy the freedom that comes with being the 'raja beta' of the house, while she was handed the ideal daughter rulebook, Rage Room India lets you put on the safety gear, pick up a bat and smash the living daylights out of bottles, crockery and electronics. Consider it a small, well-deserved appointment with all the rage that comes from the demeaning experience of growing up as a girl.
Book a sesh here.
Take her to the movies. Bombay Film Club is screening Frances Ha, Noah Baumbach’s film about a 27-year-old woman stumbling through friendship, work, love and the slightly terrifying business of figuring out who she is. It’s a good one to watch with your sister when you’re both at that age where everyone seems to have a five-year plan and you’re still figuring out what you actually want your life to look like, you know, beyond what your parents have envisioned for you.
Get your tickets here.
Take her to get her first tattoo. Chances are, she’s been waiting for the day she can finally do something mildly rebellious. Be an ally and don't rat her out, pay for it instead. You could even get matching tattoos while you’re there, so you have pact of being a confidant or even an accomplice in whatever questionable decisions you make through life.
Book a consultation here.
For the sister who appreciates the finer things in life, CUNIN is a fun new fragrance brand whose collection 'The World of Antonyms' insists on being aggressively yourself — even if that means coming across as 'IM-PERFECT,' 'DIS-LOYAL,' and unwilling to fit into the expectations placed on you. The perfumes also come in a mini refill package with Canny holders and Dangles that clip onto your bags or clothes.
Shop here.
For all the late-night snackies she has had to hide, ration or mysteriously find missing the next morning because somebody in the house “just took one”, here’s a box she can keep entirely to herself. Atom Eats has truffle potato chips, brownie nachos, strawberry and chocolate pretzels, chilli cheddar crackers and plenty of salty, sweet, crunchy things for every 1 AM craving. And for siblings who take snack equity seriously, there’s the Sibling Trade Box for officially negotiating who gets what. Remember, sharing is a personal choice.
Get them here.
For the audiophile sister whose music choices you occasionally make fun of, The Revolver Club has professionally restored, custom-modded iPods, because like most of us, I bet she's also been thinking about physical media. You can go a step further and get a turntable too. Whether she's into girly pop music that's always catching strays, some ratchet rap that's too inappropriate for the home theatre, or some obscure shit like 70s Ethiopian jazz-funk that no one else can relate to, give her the gift of uninterrupted music and make up for all the aux privileges she has lost over the years.
Shop here.
If you enjoyed reading this, here's more from Homegrown:
The Homegrown Watchlist: A Dewar’s x HG Craft Series, A Short Film About Grief, & More
A ‘Sonic Tapestry’ Walks Into A Record Store: We Need More Music Reviews & Fewer Puff Pieces
Art Against The Algorithm: The Creative Chaos Of 5 Homegrown Dancers