Raksha Bandhan – the bond of protection

Raksha Bandhan or Rakhee is one of the most popular festivals in India. It is celebrated by the Hindus, though it is also observed among Sikhs and Jains. Though the origin of the festival varies, today it signifies a bond of protection between brother and sister. Sisters tie a thread around the right wrist of their brothers, praying for their long life while brothers take a vow to protect their sisters. In recent days, Rakhee has come to signify a bond of friendship and good will towards all.

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Raksha Bandhan Rakhi with Kids

Raksha Bandhan

The origin of Raksha Bandhan

There are a number of different legends explaining the origin of Raksha Bandhan. In some cases they are mythological while in others, they are historical.

• According to Hindu scriptures, when demons or Asuras defeated the king of gods, Indra, his wife Indrani tied a sacred yellow thread around his wrist. Fortified by its protection, he went on to fight and win the war.
• Goddess Lakshmi tied a rakhee on the wrist of demon king Bali requesting the return of her lord Vishnu who was guarding the door of Bali.
• In Mahabharata, queen Draupadi once tied a piece of yellow fabric torn from her own dress on the wrist of Krishna to heal his injury. Krishna was so touched by the action that he proclaimed it made him her brother and he now had the responsibility to protect her which he did repeatedly in spite of her five powerful husbands.
• The Rakhee has been used in India since historical times to signify friendship and brotherhood. Rajput queens used to send rakhee to neighboring kings as tokens of friendship. Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore used Raksha Bandhan as a symbol of unity in the face of British strategy to partition Bengal along communal lines.

When is Raksha Bandhan celebrated?

Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Shravana.

Raksha Bandhan literally means the bond of protection. It is also known as Rakhi in various parts of India. It is called Gamha Purnima in Orissa, Narali Purnima in western India, Jandhyam Purnima in Uttarakhand, Kajari purnima in Central India and Jhulan Purnima in Bengal.

Rituals of raksha bandhan

The major rituals of Raksha bandhan are as follows:

• The common ritual is the bond between brothers and sisters. Women bathe in the morning and observe fasting. They perform puja. Then they tie rakhee on the right wrist of their brothers, cousin brothers as well as unrelated males whom they regard as brothers. They put a mark of rice and haldi on the forehead of the brother and perform aarti. The brothers give gifts to the sisters and they feed sweets to each other.
• In Orissa, Gamha Purnima is observed where cows and bulls are decorated and worshipped on this day.
• In Western India, Narali purnima is celebrated where a Nariel or coconut is offered to the sea god Varuna. It marks the beginning of the fishing season.
• Jandhyam Purnima is celebrated in Uttarakhand where the sacred thread is changed on this day.
• Jhulan purnima is celebrated in Bengal where Krishna and Radha are worshipped.

Important Timings On Raksha Bandhan