Festivals, fairs and rituals have an important place in our lives. They depict our past, culture, values. In addition, teach us to love and respect every relation and bond that we share with each other. Indian culture is enriched with many festivals. One of them is Raksha Bandhan, also known as ‘Rakhi’. It is a Hindu festival that represents the bond of love, care and brotherhood among the siblings.
According to Hindu calendar, the Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on the full moon, also known as ‘Rakhi Purnima’. It is generally celebrated in the month of July or August. The word ‘Raksha’ means protection and ‘Bandhan’ means a bond. Hence, Raksha Bandhan is a festival which shares a bond between brother and sister that they will always love, protect and guide each other through ups and downs of the life. In this festival the sister ties a Rakhi which is a thread or bracelet on her brother’s wrist & prays for his good health and well being. The brother, in return, gives her a gift as a promise to be by her side always and to protect her throughout life.
Table of Contents
- Historical Events about Raksha Bandhan
- Raksha Bandhan customs and rituals
- Celebrations of Raksha Bandhan
- Celebrating the bond of love
- Make a vow to respect and protect everyone’s sister
Historical Events about Raksha Bandhan
The origin of this festival dates back to 6000 year ago. A number of stories and historical evidences are present in Hindu mythology regarding this festival’s celebration.
According to the great Indian epic Mahabharata, during the war between Lord Krishna and the devil king Shishupal, Lord Krishna was hurt and left with a bleeding finger. When Draupadi (the wife of Pandavas) saw the bleeding finger of Lord Krishna, she torn a piece of her saree & tied it to the finger to stop bleeding. Lord Krishna felt bounded by Draupadi’s sisterly love and affection; he pledged to save her from every evil. After many years when Pandavas lost their wife Draupadi in the game of dice, the Kauravs attempted to remove Draupadi’s saree to humiliate her. At that time the Lord Krishna protected Draupadi’s diginity with his powers and kept the honour of her sisterly bond.
There is another famous historical story of Rani Karnawati and Emperor Humayun. Rani Karnawati was the widowed wife of the king of Chittor. When Bahadur Shah (the sultan of Gujarat) tried to conquer the Kingdom of Chittor from her, she felt unable to protect the kingdom. She sent a thread as Rakhi to the famous mughal Emperor Humayun and asked him for help. Humayun felt honoured and accepted her as his Rakhi sister and immediately left with his troops to help her and protect the kingdom.
Since those times, it is believed that Rakhi thread or Raksha Bandhan is meant as a gesture of commitment and protection of sisters from all evils.
There are many other events as well in the hindu mythology that marks the historical significance of the festival Raksha Bandhan.
Raksha Bandhan customs and rituals
The customs and rituals of celebrating Raksha Bandhan are different from religion to religion and community to community. In Hindu religion, the Rakhi celebrations ceremony includes a thali or plate consisting of rice, diya, roli, rakhis and some sweets. The sister puts a tilak on her brother’s forehead and tie a Rakhi on his wrist, afterwards she puts a sweet in his mouth. In return, brother gives her a gift or some money as a gesture of love and promises for her protection throughout her entire life.
Jain community, celebrates Raksha Bandhan by distributing ceremonial threads to the devotees by the Jain priests.
In Sikhism, Raksha bandhan is known as ‘Rakhri’ and celebrated as festival of love between brothers and sisters.
Celebrations Of Raksha Bandhan
The excitement and enthusiasm of this festival can be seen many days prior to the day of Rakhi. People start buying new clothes, colourful Rakhis, different sweets and gifts for the celebrations. Married women visit their brother’s home to tie rakhis. However,simple Rakhi threads has transformed into more colourful, decorated, charming and designer rakhis which are way more costlier. Raksha bandhan is not only celebrated among the siblings having blood relations but it is nowadays celebrated more as gesture of bond and love where women or children tie rakhis to soldiers, priests and elders also.
Celebrating the bond of love
Raksha bandhan is a symbol of uniteness, love, protection and brotherhood. It is a way or means of celebrating every bond of love not necessarily the siblings bonds only. It is a way of uniting the families and friends. People visit their friends, relatives and send them the sweets, gifts and well wishes. Sisters tie rakhis to their brothers’ wrists whether they are biological or not and pray for their good health, prosperity, safety and well being and brothers pledge for their sisters’ protection.
Make a vow to respect and protect everyone’s sister
Raksha Bandhan is a sacred festival of love and respect between brother and sisters.
“ Every brother and sister should pledge to protect and guide each other on the right track. Most importantly every brother must pledge to protect, respect and treat everyone’s sisters as their own. Small initiatives from every member of society can have a large impact over all.”
Saint Dr. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan
Raksha Bandhan is a festival of purity and love. It symbolizes the unity and brotherhood by transcending all the barriers of caste, creed, religion. It also strengthens and upholds the relation between brother and sister which should be celebrated with true love and affection.
