Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi Festival of India

Raksha Bandhan is a popular Hindu festival which celebrates the bond of affection between brothers and sisters. The date on which Raksha Bandhan falls this year is 13 August 2011. Raksha Bandhan is the celebration where the sisters tie a special thread known as Rakhi or Raksha Sutra around the wrist of Brothers. On this auspicious day brothers make a promise to their sisters to protect them from all harms and troubles and the sisters pray to God to protect their brother from all evil. The meaning of Raksha Bandhan is a bond of protection. This festival falls on Shravan Purnima, the full moon day of the month of Shravan in the Hindu calendar. Raksha Bandhan is refered to as Vish Tarak, Punya Pradayak and Pap Nashak. Rakhis are ideally made of silk with gold and silver threads and decorated with sequins and studded with semi precious stones. On this day people make tasty dishes and sweets at home and exchange gifts.

According to a legend, Indras wife Indrani tied Rakhi for protection on her husband wrist on Shravan Purnima as adviced by Brihaspathi so that Indra could win the battle against demons. Indian history also have instances where some queens have send rakhis to kings belonging to other kingdoms and the kings in turn offered their help and protection to their rakhi sisters. History has it that the Hindu King Porus refrained from striking Alexander the great because the Alexanders wife had tied a Rakhi on his hand and made him her Rakhi Brother. In great epic Mahabharata Krishna advises Yudhishtir to tie the Rakhi to guard himself against evil forces. In this epic Kunti ties rakhi to her grandson Abhimanyu and Draupadi ties to lord Krishna.Though the tradition started with wives or mother tying the holy thread with time the festival came to comprise of brother and sister.

I remember that while I was in college there was a guy who was behind me with his confession of love. I always behaved with him politely and avoided situations when I had to confront him alone. But on the day of Rakhi I went to him with a smile and said that I have something special for him and handed him a Rakhi. He never disturbed me after that incident. Like me many still use the Rakhi to send across the message ‘let’s just be friends and nothing more’.

On the day of Raksha Bandhan, sisters prepare a Puja Thali with diya, roli, chawal, rakhi thread and sweets. The ritual begins with a prayer in front of God and then tying the Rakhi on the wrist of the brother. Sisters put roli and rice on the forehead of brothers with prayer for his wellbeing. The Brothers in turn acknowledge the love with a promise to stand by his sister through all the good and bad times and also gives gifts and blessings to sisters. Brothers and sisters of hindu families try to reach out to each other on this day. If they are unable to meet each other sisters send the rakhi by mails or courier to the brother and the brothers send the gifts in the same manner. It is also possible now to send rakhi e-cards and e-rakhis.