Held on 11th August 2022
Raksha Bandhan is an Indian Hindu Festival. The Festival essentially celebrates the relationship between brothers and sisters. The Festival is all about affection, fraternity and sublime sentiments which brothers and sisters all over country share with each other. It is celebrated on the full moon of the month of Shraavana (Shravan Poornima) which falls in the Gregorian month of August. Raksha Bandhan means the 'Bond of Protection' or 'Knot of Protection', which all brothers vow to their respective sisters. This vow is materialised every year on this auspicious day by tying of a Rakhi, or Holy Thread 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 her brother. The brother and sister traditionally feed one another sweets. Rakhi in this way commemorate their loving memories, loyalty, closeness, trust and friendship that is ever lasting and pure. It is not necessary that a Rakhi can be given only to a blood brother; any male can be adopted as a brother by tying a Rakhi on the person. Though an Hindu Festival, it is celebrated by most of the people belonging to other communities with great enthusiasm.
History
There is no confirmed date and time available about the history of Rakhi festival, but there are many stories related to it. It is believed that it may come into existence about 6000 years back when Aryans created first civilization - The Indus Valley Civilization. It is assumed to have been started as the 'different tradition' of tying the thread to the husband, it has evolved to having the sisters tying the thread to their brother. There are many Historical facts regarding the origins of Raksha Bandhan.
Some of the Legends related to Raksha Bandhan are:
1. Indrani's Talisman - In the Vedic period, on a 'Shravan Poornima' day (Full Moon Day of the Hindu month of Shravan), the deities and demons were fighting a battle against each other. The demons were in a stronger position, as compared to the deities. The king of the deities, Lord Indra, was very much worried about the result of the battle. His wife Indrani (also known as Shashikala) could not see him worried and prayed to the almighty to help her husband. Indrani was a religious lady, so she prepared a talisman with her religious power and tied it around Indra's right wrist. Indrani believed that her talisman will safeguard Indra from the attack of demons. Eventually, she proved right, as that day, the deities won the battle and Lord Indra escaped unhurt. As the talisman had the power of protecting the person who wore it, it came to be known as 'Raksha Sutra' and the ceremony of tying it was called 'Raksha Bandhan'. Since this particular act of tying the talisman took place on 'Shravan Poornima' day, it has become a tradition to celebrate 'Raksha Bandhan' on the 'Shravan Poornima' day every year. With time, the festival came to comprise of brother-sister duo, rather than husband-wife.
2. Krishna and Draupadi - Another incident is the one from the epic Mahabharat that concerns Krishna and Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas. Lord Krishna killed the evil King Shishupal and he was hurt during the war. Draupadi saw the wound of Krishna and tore a strip of silk off her sari and tied it around Krishna's wrist to stop the flow of blood. Krishna was so touched by her action that he found himself bound to her by love. He promised to repay the debt one day. Krishna repaid the debt of love during "Vastra-Haran"(literally "clothing-theft") of Draupadi. Draupadi's "Vastra-Haran" was done in the assembly of King Dhritarashtra, when Yudhishthir, her husband lost her in gamble. At that time Krishna indefinitely extended her saree, so it could not be removed, to save her pride. This is how he paid his debt towards Rakhi tied to him by Draupadi.
3. King Bali and Goddess Laxmi - According to another 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 Brahmin 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 good will 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.
4. Yama and the Yamuna - According to another legend, 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 that whoever gets a Rakhi tied from his sister and promised her protection will become immortal.
5. Alexander 'The Great' and King Porus - According to some accounts, Alexander, the King of Greece invaded India in 326 B.C. He married an Indian lady, Roxana (Roshanak) to cement his relations with the new Central Asian regions. Alexander's wife sent a sacred thread to Porus, asking him not to harm her husband in battle. In accordance with Hindu traditions, Porus 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 wrist and restrained himself from attacking Alexander personally.
6. Maharani Karnawati and Emperor Humayun - In the Medieval Indian history, the tale of Maharani Karnawati and Mughal Emperor Humayun relates to the tradition of Rakhi. Maharani Karnawati was the queen of the Rajput Kingdom, Chittor, in Rajasthan. 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 of Mewar, she sent a Rakhi to Emperor Humayun. Humayun, the Mughal Emperor of Delhi was aware of the significance of Rakhi in the Hindu community, so he immediately accepted her request to protect her.
7. Rajput Practice - The practice of tying thread was prevalent among the Rajputs and Indian history is full of instances related to the significance of this tradition. At the time of war when the brave Rajput soldiers prepared to go to the battlefield, the women folk followed the ritual of tying a thread around their wrist after applying a dash of vermilion powder on their forehead. This was considered a sign of good omen and the ladies believed that it would protect their men from the enemy's blow and bring them victory.
Events
- 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. As per the traditions, the sister on this day prepares the pooja thali with diya, roli, chawal and Rakhis. She worships the deities, ties Rakhi to the brother and wishes for their well-being. The brother in turn acknowledges the love with a promise to be by the sisters' side through thick and thin and gives her a token gift. Raksha Bandhan tightens the bond of love between the sister and brother.
While performing the ritual, sisters generally chant the following 'mantra' which is a blessing:
"Suraj shakhan chhodian, Mooli chhodia beej, Behen ne rakhi bandhi / Bhai tu chir jug jee".
Translation - "The sun radiates its sunlight; the radish spreads its seeds, I tie the Rakhi to you O brother and wish that may you live long."
After her prayer for a long life for her brother, she says that she is tying the ever-protective Raksha to her brother's wrist and chants the mantra mentioned in the 'Hindu Shastras':
"Yena baddho Balee raajaa daanavendro mahaabalah, tena twaam anubadhnaami rakshe maa chala maa chala".
Translation - "I am tying a Rakhi on you, like the one on mighty demon king Bali. Be firm, O Rakhi, do not falter."
- On this day, women decorate each others' palms with different styles of mehendi.
- If a brother is unable to come on the Rakhi Day, he is sent Rakhi by post as remembrance of a sister's love towards her brother. In modern times Rakhi is also sent through E-greetings which enable sending of Electronic Cards through Internet.
Regional Celebrations
While Raksha Bandhan is celebrated all over the country, different parts of the country mark the day in different ways. These celebrations happen to fall on the same day, and may not have anything to do with Raksha Bandhan itself or Rakhi.
- Rakhi Purnima - Rakhi is celebrated as Rakhi Purnima in North and South India. The word "Purnima" means a full moon night.it is also called as Raksha Bandhan.
- Nariyal Purnima - In western India and parts of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa this day is celebrated as Nariyal Purnima. On this day an offering of a nariyal (coconut) is made to the sea, as a mark of respect to Lord Varuna, the God of the Sea. Nariyal Purnima marks the beginning of the fishing season and the fishermen, who depend on the sea for a living, make an offering to Lord Varuna so that they can reap bountiful fish from the sea.
- Janyo Punyo - The people of the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, celebrate Raksha Bandhan and Janopunyu on the Shravani Purnima. On this day people change their janeu (sacred thread). On this day the famous Bagwal fair is held at Devidhura in district Champawat. Punyu in Kumauni means Purnima or full moon it is the Purnima in which the sacred thread Janeu or Janyo is ceremonially changed. The Raksha Bandhan celebrations are same as in all across North India.
- Kajari Purnima - In central parts of India such as Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Jharkand and Bihar this day is celebrated as Kajari Purnima. It is an important day for the farmers and women blessed with a son. On the ninth day after Shravana Amavasya, the preparations of the Kajari festival start. This ninth day is called Kajari Navami and varied rituals are performed by women who have sons until Kajri Purnima or the full moon day.
- Pavitropana - In parts of Gujarat, this day is celebrated as Pavitropana. On this day people perform the grand pooja or the worship of Lord Shiva. It is the culmination of the prayers done through out the year.
Holiday Status - It is a Restricted Holiday.
Alternate Names - Raksha Bhandan, Rakhi, Raakhi, Rakhri, Saluno, Baleva.
