Introduction:
'Raksha Bandhan' or 'Rakhi' is a special occasion
to celebrate this emotional bonding by tying a holy thread around
the wrist. On the day of Raksha Bandhan sisters tie Rakhi on their
brother's wrist and express their love for him. It means 'a bond
of protection', and Raksha Bandhan signifies that the strong must
protect the weak from all that’s evil as it binds brothers
and sisters in as inseparable bond of love and trust.
Rakhi holds immense significance in Indian
cultural ethos. The custom of celebrating Rakhi started in Vedic
times and even today brothers and sisters consider it must to
celebrate the occasion in traditional manner. When brothers are
away sisters send Rakhi to them and express their love. Accepting
the Rakhi with grace brothers send Return gifts to their sister.
This loving gesture goes a long way in strengthening brother sister
relationship and building stronger family ties. The importance
of Raksha Bandhan is same as Diwali festival in India.
In Northern India, Rakhi Purnima is also called
Kajri Purnima or Kajri Navami, when wheat or barley is sown, and
goddess Bhagwati is worshipped. In Western states, the festival
is called Nariyal Purnima or the Coconut Full Moon. In Southern
India, Shravan Purnima is an important religious occasion, especially
for the Brahmins. Raksha Bandhan is known by various names: Vish
Tarak - the destroyer of venom, Punya Pradayak - the bestower
of boons, and Pap Nashak - the destroyer of sins.
Celebrated on:
The ritual is observed on the full moon day
of the Hindu month of Shravan
History of the Festival:
>> Rani Karnawati and
Emperor Humayun
During the medieval era, Rajputs were fighting Muslim invasions.
Rakhi at that time meant a spiritual binding and protection of
sisters was foremost. When Rani Karnawati the widowed queen of
the king of Chittor realised that she could in no way defend the
invasion of the Sultan of Gujarat, Bahadur Shah, she sent a rakhi
to Emperor Humayun. The Emperor touched by the gesture started
off with his troops without wasting any time.
>> Alexander The Great
and King Puru
The oldest reference to the festival of rakhi goes back to 300
B.C. at the time when Alexander invaded India. It is said that
the great conqueror, King Alexander of Macedonia was shaken by
the fury of the Indian king Puru in his first attempt. Upset by
this, Alexander's wife, who had heard of the Rakhi festival, approached
King Puru. King Puru accepted her as his sister and when the opportunity
came during the war, he refrained from Alexander.
>> Yama and the Yamuna
It is said that the Raksha Bandhan was a ritual followed by Lord
Yama (the Lord of Death) and his sister Yamuna. Yamuna tied rakhi
to Yama and bestowed immortality. Yama was so moved by the serenity
of the occasion that he declared thar whoever gets a rakhi tied
from his sister and promised her protection will become immortal.
>> In the Epics
Raksha Bandhan finds a mention in Mahabharata when Lord Krishna
advised Yudhishthir to perform the ceremony to protect himself
and the army from the dangers of the war. It is said that Kunti,
the mother of the Pandavas tied rakhi to her grandson Abhimanyu
and Draupadi to lord Krishna.
Legends of the Festival:
>> Legend in the Bhavishya
Puran
The legend refers to a war between the Gods and the Demons. The
demon King Brutra was advancing and the Gods lead by lord Indra,
were on verge of defeat. The king of Gods, Indra approached Guru
Brihaspati to find a solution to the situation. Brihaspati asked
Indra to tie a sacred thread on his wrist, powered by the sacred
mantras on the Shravan Purnima. Lord Indra's Queen Sachi also
called Indrani, empowered the thread and tied it on to his hand
on the decided day. The power of the sacred thread called Raksha
helped the Gods to victory. The tradition of thread tying still
continues. It is a gesture of goodwill.
>> Legend of King Bali
and Goddess Laxmi
According to another legend Demon King Bali was a great devotee
of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu had taken up the task to guard his
kingdom leaving his own abode in Vaikunth. Goddess Laxmi wished
to be with her lord back in her abode. She went to Bali disguised
as a Brahmin woman to seek refuge till her husband came back.
During the Shravan Purnima celebrations, Laxmiji tied the sacred
thread to the King. Upon being asked she revealed who she was
and why she was there. The king was touched by her goodwill for
his family and her purpose and requested the Lord to accompany
her. He sacrificed all he had for the Lord and his devoted wife.
Thus the festival is also called Baleva that is Bali Raja's devotion
to the Lord.It is said that since then it has been a tradition
to invite sisters in Shravan Purnima for the thread tying ceremony
or the Raksha Bandhan.
Celebrations of the festival:
On the Raksha Bandhan day, the festivities start
by the day break. Every one gets ready early and gathers for the
worship of the deities. After invoking the blessings of the Gods,
the sister performs brother’s arti, puts tika and chawal
on his forehead and ties Rakhi amongst chanting of mantras. Then
she gives him sweets and gifts. The brother accepts her offerings
and vows to take care of her and be by her side in the time of
need. As a token he gives the sister a return gift and sweets.
The Raksha Bandhan ceremony ends here and the celebrations begin.
The family reunion itself is the reason for celebration. Tasty
dishes, sweets, gifts, sing and dance and what not. Any Indian
festival is incomplete without this. For those siblings who for
distances are not able to meet, it is a day for remembering the
bygone time when the day was celebrated together. Emotions are
expressed through e mails, e cards, rakhi greeting cards, and
rakhis through internet or mail. Nothing on this day can stop
the overflowing emotions.
Congregations like Rakhi Mohotsavas were started
by Rabindra Nath Tagore in Shantiniketan. He started this to propagate
the feeling of brotherhood amongst people. This invoked trust
and feeling of peaceful coexistence. The festival for them is
a symbol of harmony. The tradition continues as people tie rakhis
to the neighbors and close friends. It is a festival denoting
National sentiments of harmony.
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