Sundays, Spruce Cones, and Old Songs

Growing up, Sundays during winter vacations were something special, slow, warm, and filled with memories. Years later, I found that same feeling again through the Bohra Sisters and their nostalgic animations.

I still remember curling up with Nanu and Nani to watch old Bollywood movies, those soft sofas, and the smell of homemade snacks and that familiar comfort of being together. Nani usually understood the story, but Nanu still loved explaining every scene to her. “Dekho, hero usko bachane jaa raha hai,” or “Ye villain ne toh usko kidnap kar liya.” And Nani would just smile and nod, letting him continue.

And when we weren’t glued to the TV, we were outdoors, making our own little adventures. My brothers and I would head into the nearby woods with Nani to collect Himalayan spruce cones. We would use them in the Hamam or evening bonfires, making sure every bath was warm and every night a little magical.

Bus Rides and Burman Tunes

Another memory that refuses to fade is our family bus rides back to my hometown in Upper Shimla. Just imagine, a Himachal Roadways bus winding through mountains, retro songs from RD Burman and Asha Bhonsle playing on the driver’s stereo, and deodars swaying past the windows. Kishore Kumar. Lata Mangeshkar. Mohammed Rafi. Those melodies weren’t just songs, they were the soundtrack to our stories.

Bohra Sisters and a Digital Escape

Then came the pandemic. Anxious, restless days indoors. Until I discovered something beautiful, something that instantly transported me back. It was the Instagram page of the Bohra Sisters, Zainab and Sakina, whose animations felt like my childhood wrapped in pixels. Their work brought comfort, joy, and the kind of warmth we don’t find easily these days.

The Bohra Sisters: Bringing Back Simpler Times

Their Instagram is like an old trunk of memories, filled with lanterns, gramophones, chuskis, and late-night Gulaab Jamuns from Dadaji’s kitchen. Their sketches of malai chai with Naniji or a quiet evening by the radio, it all feels so personal, yet strangely universal. It’s like they’re drawing our stories, without ever meeting us.

Two Sisters, One Shared Dream

What I admire most is their journey. Zainab, based in Kuwait, and Sakina in California, both moms, both artists, both finding time to create despite the chaos of life. One comes from an engineering background, the other from marketing. But together, they found a shared language in animation and nostalgia.

Timelessness in Bohra Sister's Art

Their love for old Hindi cinema is easy to see. Their illustrations blend vintage warmth with modern softness, and the result is pure magic. Every reel of theirs feels like a pause button on the busy world, a soft reminder that not everything needs to move fast to be meaningful.

A Personal Connection

Whenever I feel overwhelmed or too caught up in the digital noise, I turn to the Bohra Sisters. Their art feels like a warm blanket. A reminder of things that matter, family, simplicity, stories. And in a world that often celebrates loudness, their gentle honesty stands out even more.

Nostalgia That Feels Personal

We all carry little pockets of memory. For me, it’s the scent of pine, those old Himachali homes, RD Burman on the bus. For someone else, it might be a steel lunchbox or handwritten letters. The Bohra Sisters help us hold onto those things. Not because they’re trendy, but because they are true.

Why Bohra sisters Work Matters

Their animations aren’t just aesthetically pleasing, they feel. They remind us to slow down, to smile at old memories, and to cherish the quiet corners of our lives. And maybe, in doing so, we find a bit more of ourselves again.

If you love stories that blend memory and minimalism, you might also enjoy my piece on Malika Favre’s minimalist illustrations.