With Raksha Bandhan coming up on Aug 9th, involve your kids in making a raakhi. They will enjoy the craft and learn a bit more about Indian culture.
Rakhi, a colourful piece of art, with silken threads entwined together in an attractive manner and adorned with beads and golden threads are placed on the wrists of brothers for their good health, wealth, happiness and success. This festival establishes the bond of love and affection between the siblings.
You can make a “friendship bracelet” to tie around your brothers or you can make this simple rakhi.
Materials needed:
Strands of silk threads-2/3
A pair of scissors
Cotton thread to tie knots
Beads, sitaras, golden threads and sponge to decorate
Glue
A toothbrush with hard bristles
Method:
Take 20-24 inches long silk thread strands in a bunch. If you want to make multi coloured rakhis take silk threads of different colours 
Tie a tight knot with a cotton thread on the one-fourth part of the silken thread bunch. The one-fourth part will be made into a rakhi while the three-fourth will be the string to tie around the wrist.
Now make sure the heads of the silk threads of the one-fourth part of the bunch do not remain in loops, in case they are, cut them with a pair of scissors. Once they are independent of loops, with a toothbrush rub hard on these threads and brush them with strong strokes by holding tight on the knot. With repeated strokes the silk threads turns fluffy and soft.
To make the string, divide the three-fourth part of the silk thread in two equal parts and plait them separately. At the end tie a knot and brush the end again.Once this is done decorate it with beads or sitaras.
Stick them with glue. You can purchase sponge of a suitable colour, cut it into a star shape, decorate it with beads or sitaras. Golden threads can be entwined used for decoration. And then stick it with glue.
