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Raksha Bandhan Festival : 19 August 2024

Wild, weird, wacky, wicked.......witty, wonderful, one of kind brothers!

Irritating, infuriating, aggravating, exasperating.......dopey, delightful darling sisters!

What do we do with them....... and what would we do without them?

Celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters is the Hindu festival of Rakshabandhan. On a full moon day in the month of Sravana (August), sisters tie thread amulets on their brothers’ wrists, praying for their longevity and happiness. Brothers, in turn are bound by the delicate threads to cherish and safeguard their sisters. The fragile threads symbolise a deep abiding relationship -- loving, tender, devoted, protective and indulgent.

Significance of Raksha Bandhan

The basic significance of Raksha Bandhan is to strengthen the bond of love between the siblings. In addition to that Raksha Bandhan also signifies a peaceful co-existence of every individual.

Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi as it is popularly known is celebrated on a full moon day in August with great fervour all over India and the celebrations remain same with little variation here and there that includes tying Rakhi on brother’s wrists, exchanging gifts and gorging on delicious sweets like gulab jamun, rasgulla, barfi, and chocolates.

On the auspicious day of Raksha Bandhan sisters get up early, have a bath and then pray to Lord Ganesha and then perform the aarti of brothers, put tilak and rice on their forehead and tie a Rakhi on his wrist. Following which sweets are exchanged and there is happiness all around. The celebrations continue throughout the day with families reuniting and doing fun activities together.

Siblings who are living away from each other send their wishes through phone or email and Rakhi is sent through the Rakhi cards.

There are various legends surrounding the festivities of Raksha Bandhan and it also finds a mention in the Mahabharata. Some of the prominent one is the legend of Queen Karnavati and Emperor Humayun.

According to the Indian medieval history, Queen Karnavati of the Rajput Kingdom, Chittor had sent a Rakhi to Humayun the Mughal Emperor of Delhi seeking his help against Bahadur Shah of Mewar. Emperor Humayun knew about the significance of Rakhi in the Hindu community hence accepted her request to protect Queen Karnavati.

Since then the ritual of tying of a sacred thread Rakhi on the wrist of brothers is celebrated with much fervour all over the country.

The legend of King Bali and Goddess Laxmi is a popular one. According to the legend Lord Vishnu was immensely pleased with his devotee King Bali thus granting him a boon of immortality and promised heavenly protection for his kingdom.

In order to fulfil his promise Lord Vishnu left his abode Vaikunthdham and came to stay with King Bali. Soon Goddess Laxmi visited King Bali on the Shravan Poornima day disguised a poor Brahmin lady and tied Rakhi on his wrist. When King Bali tried to give her some present, she revealed her true identity and asked the King to send Lord Vishnu back with her to Vaikunthdham.

Another legend is of Yama (the God of death) and Yamuna. It is believed that on every Shravan Poornima day Yamuna used to tie a sacred thread on Yama’s wrist. Yama was so moved by the serenity of this custom that he declared that whosoever gets a Rakhi tied on his wrist from his sister and promised her protection will become protection.

Since then Raksha Bandhan celebrates the eternal bond between brothers and sisters all over the country.