International Day of Families 2025: From Whatsapp group messages and memes to family dinners, here’s how to celebrate family bonding

Even if it's just one meal a day, sitting together without screens creates space for real conversations. A shared breakfast or dinner can become a cherished daily ritual, no matter how packed your schedules are (Image: Canva)

The International Day of Families, marked on May 15 every year, is more than a date on the calendar, it’s a gentle reminder of the love, lessons, and laughter that bind people in a family. In India, family isn’t just an institution; it’s the very soul of society. From shared meals to sacred rituals, Indian families are shaped by tradition, deep emotional ties and culture.

Once centred around joint families, Indian households have evolved with modern lifestyles, yet their emotional DNA remains beautifully intact. Today, nuclear families thrive alongside joint ones, and digital connections often supplement physical ones. Whether it’s a grandmother’s recipe shared over a video call or siblings and cousins reunited over a long weekend, the bond remains unbroken.

Even as career shifts and global moves separate loved ones geographically, the emotional closeness persists. Rituals, festivals, and Sunday catch-ups continue to nurture the soul of the Indian parivaar.

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7 ways to keep the family bond alive in busy lives:

• Make mealtimes sacred: Even if it's just one meal a day, sitting together without screens creates space for real conversations. A shared breakfast or dinner can become a cherished daily ritual, no matter how packed your schedules are.

• Celebrate small moments: You don’t need grand occasions to come together. Mark a promotion, a good exam result, or even a random Tuesday with a sweet treat or a family selfie. These small joys go a long way in keeping bonds warm.

• Use technology to stay close: Video calls, WhatsApp groups, voice notes, use them all. A quick, we are thinking of you, message or a funny meme shared in the family group can brighten someone’s day and maintain a sense of connection, even from afar.

• Share responsibilities: When everyone pitches in, be it planning holidays, running errands, or cooking Sunday lunch, it creates a sense of teamwork. It also ensures no one person bears the load, and that in itself builds stronger ties.

• Keep family traditions alive: From Sunday halwa-poori or poha breakfasts to Diwali cleaning marathons, traditions, even the quirky ones, can help you stay connected. They give rhythm to your life and something familiar to look forward to, especially in fast-paced times.

• Talk, and really listen: Take time to check in with each other beyond the usual “How are you?” Listen without judgement, especially to younger or older members, who often just need to feel heard and understood.

• Prioritise quality over quantity: You may not always have hours to spare, but even a focused 15-minute chat without distractions can mean the world. It’s not about how much time you spend, it’s about how present you are when you do.