Raksha Bandhan – The Thread of Love
Festivals of India always bring immense joy and happiness in the entire country. People forget various societal strains, induce fellow-feeling, open up channels of expression, give themselves an opportunity to rework on our role as human beings and most importantly, bring joy in their mundane lives. Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi is one such festival widely celebrated in India & all over the world which celebrates the relationship between brothers and sisters. It is also called Rakhi Purnima in certain parts of India, like the south. The festival falls on the full moon day (Shravan Poornima) of the Shravan month of the Hindu calendar.
Perhaps the single most important way of celebrating Raksha Bandhan is by tying the raakhi. A sister ties a raakhi to the wrist of her brother. This symbolizes the sister's love and prayers for her brother's well-being, and the brother's lifelong vow to protect her. In the ancient Puranik scriptures, it is said that King Bali's stronghold had been the Raakhi. Hence, while tying the rakhi this couplet is usually recited:
Yena baddho Baliraja daanavendro Mahaabala,
tena twaamabhi badh naami rakshe naa chala naa chala
It means I tie on you (the devotee) the raksha
which was tied on Bali, the King of demons. Therefore O Raksha! Do not ever
fail to protect this devotee, do not ever fail.
History
It grew in popularity after Rani Karnavati, the widowed queen of Chittor, sent a rakhi to the Mughal emperor Humayun when she required his help. Another incident from the epic Mahabharat concerns Krishna and Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas. She had once torn a strip of silk off her sari and tied it around Krishna's wrist to staunch the bleeding from a battlefield wound. Krishna was touched by her action and declared her to be his sister, even though they were unrelated. According to a legend the 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 Lakshmi wished to be with her lord back in her abode. She went to Bali disguised as a woman to seek refuge till her husband came back. During the Shravan Purnima celebrations, Lakshmi 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, 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. According to one legendary narrative, when Alexander the Great invaded India in 326 BC, Roxana (or Roshanak, his wife) sent a sacred thread to Porus, asking him not to harm her husband in battle. In accordance with tradition, Porus, a Katoch king, gave full respect to the rakhi. On the battlefield, when Porus was about to deliver a final blow to Alexander, he saw the rakhi on his own wrist and restrained himself from attacking Alexander personally.
The festival is marked by the tying of a rakhi, or holy thread, which comes in many colors and designs, by the sister on the wrist of her brother. The brother in return offers a gift to his sister and vows to look after her as she presents sweets to him. The brother usually presents his sister with an envelope filled with money however, other presents such as saris and clothing can be given.
To conclude this ritual not only strengthens the bond of love between brothers and sisters, but also transcends the confines of the family. When a Rakhi is tied on the wrists of close friends and neighbours, it underscores the need for a harmonious social life, where every individual co-exist peacefully as brothers and sisters.
We wish you all a very happy raksha bandhan.
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