Raksha Bandhan is one of popular and a significant Hindu festival forming part of Sanatan tradition and Culture.
Raksha word in Hindi embodies protection. Bandhan signifies a bond. Raksha Bandhan is a festival of brothers and sisters, siblings and cousins. The celebration involves rituals with a central theme of Brother and Sister both praying and pledging protection to each other.
Raksha Bandhan, also known as Rakhi, is a Hindu festival celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters. It’s celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Shravana, which this year falls on August 9th.
The festival signifies the enduring bond of love, care, and respect between siblings and cousins, extending to a broader message of universal brotherhood and sisterhood.
The core of the celebration involves sisters applying Tilak on brothers forehead signifying blessings, tying a decorative thread, called a rakhi, on their brothers’ wrists, symbolizing love, protection, wishes for wellbeing and success of brother. In return, brothers pledge to safeguard their sisters and give gifts to sisters as token of love, care, affection, and bonding.
In some communities, like the Rajasthani and Marwadi communities, women also tie rakhis to their brothers’ wives (Bhabhis), known as Lumba rakhis.
While traditionally Raksha Bandhan is a celebration between siblings and cousins, it has expanded to include others having no blood relation and friends, and even those who serve and protect the nation.
Origin
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Rakshabandhan festival was initiated by Rabindranath Tagore.
In response to Britishers planning to divide Hindus and Muslims, Tagore gave the call to bind Hindus and Muslims in unity. Thousands of people from Bengal, Assam and Dhaka showed up on the banks of Ganges, and tied Rakhi to each other.
After taking a dip in holy Ganga, Tagore started a Raksha Bandhan rally from river bank to a mosque and tied rakhis to the muslim clerics. What a great visionary to start a ritual for peace and harmony. But unfortunately, this festival has lost the aspect of Hindu Muslim unity and is restricted within traditional celebration within Hindu community.
Dr Hitendra Mehta, India
