Raksha Bandhan is a special festival where a sister ties rakhi on her brother's wrist. In return, Brothers offer unqiue gifts to her sister and promise her always to be there to help her. Rakhi is celebrated every year on ‘Shravan Purnima’ and this year the festival falls on August 2nd. So Express your love and affection for your dear brother by sending beautiful Rakhi 2012.
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. The brother and sister traditionally feed one another sweets. These sweets include anything from Jalebi, Kaju Katli, and Burfi. Since north Indian kinship practices give cousins a status similar to siblings, girls and women often tie the rakhi to their male cousins as well (referred to as "cousin-brothers" in regional parlance) in several communities. Unrelated boys and men who are considered to be brothers (munh-bola bhai or adopted brothers) can be tied rakhis, provided they commit to a lifelong obligation to provide protection to the woman or girl.
Raksha Bandhan in History
Hindu scriptures and mythology is the source of all the Hindu rituals and festivals. In fact, one can find explanations for all the Hindu traditions and customs in the religious epics. Even the origin of Rakhi celebrations is rooted in the Hindu mythology. There is no confirmed date and time available about the history of Rakhi festival, but the stories are many. 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. The different stories related to this festival, which explain the history behind it, go as follows...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. Unfortunately 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.
The traditional Hindu festival 'Raksha Bandhan' (knot of protection) was came into origin about 6000 years back when Aryans created first civilization - The Indus Valley Civilization. With many languages and cultures, the traditional method to Rakhi festival celebration differs from place to place across India. Following are some historical evidences of Raksha Bandhan celebration from the Indian history.
Rani Karnawati and Emperor Humayun
The story of Rani Karnavati and Emperor Humayun is the most significant evidence in the history. 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.
Lord Krishna and Draupathi
In order to protect the good people, Lord Krishna killed the evil King Shishupal. Krishna was hurt during the war and left with bleeding finger. Seeing this, Draupathi had torn a strip of cloth from her sari and tied around his wrist to stop the bleeding. Lord Krishna, realizing her affections and concern about him, declared himself bounded by her sisterly love. He promised her to repay this debt whenever she need in future. Many years later, when the pandavas lost Draupathi in the game of dice and Kauravas were removing her saari, Krishna helped her divinely elongating the saari so that they could not remove it.
King Bali and Goddess Lakshmi
The demon king Mahabali was a great devotee of lord Vishnu. Because of his immense devotion, Vishnu has taken the task of protecting bali's Kingdom leaving his normal place in Vikundam. Goddess lakshmi - the wife of lord Vishnu - has became sad because of this as she wanted lord Vishnu along with her. So she went to Bali and discussed as a Brahmin woman and taken refuge in his palace. On Shravana purnima, she tied Rakhi on King Bali's wrist. Goddess Lakshmi revealed who she is and why she is there. The king was touched by Her and Lord Vishnu's good will and affection towards him and his family, Bali requested Lord Vishnu to accompany her to vaikuntam. Due to this festival is also called Baleva as Bali Raja's devotion to the Lord vishnu. It is said that since that day it has become a tradition to invite sisters on sravan pournima to tie sacred thread of Rakhi or Raksha bandan.
Santoshi Ma
Jai Santoshi Maa. Ganesh
had two sons, Shubh and Labh. On Raksha Bandhan, Ganesh's sister
visited and tied a rakhi on Ganesh's wrist. Feeling and his two wives,
Riddhi and Siddhi, for a sister. Finally, Ganesh conceded the demand,
and Santoshi Ma (literally the Mother Goddess of Satisfaction) was created by divine flames that emerged from Riddhi and Siddhi.
Raksha Bandhan In India
North India
Rakhi festival is popularly called 'Raksha-Bandhan' all over the country. However, it is known by one more name in some parts of North India and that is 'Kajri-Poornima'. In northern parts of the country, this day is propitious because marks the day farmers start sowing the grain seeds, in their farms. Since a new beginning is there, people worship 'Goddess Bhagwati' on this day.
East India
In the eastern part of the country, the significance of Raksha Bandhan is indicated by the cultural richness of famous institute 'Shanti-Niketan.' The founder of this institute was the great Nobel Laureate Rabindro Nath Thhakur. He initiated the 'Rakhi Utsava' (Rakhi tying ceremony) there long back. But the custom is continued till date by the pupils of the 'Shanti-Niketan'.
South India
In some parts of the South India, Rakhi is celebrated by the name of 'Avanee-Avittum', whereas in other parts, it is known as 'Opakramam'. This day has special significance for the Brahmins, as they tie the sacred string on their patron's wrist and in turn, the patrons offer them gifts in cash or kind. 'Shravan Poornima' is yet another name of Rakhi in this part of the country.
West India
In the western region of India, Raksha Bandhan is popularly known by the name of 'Naariyal Poornima' (the 'Coconut Full Moon Day'). Since ancient times, it has been believed that people worship Lord Varuna (the God of Sea) on this day. They offer the 'Naariyals' (coconuts) to the Lord, by proffering them into the sea.
Famous Rakhi Quotes
"My sisters have taught me how to live."
- George Wasserstein
"As we grew up, my brothers acted like they didn't care,
But I always knew they looked out for me and were there!"
- Catherine Pulsifer
"Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero."
- Marc Brown
"A brother shares childhood memories and grown-up dreams."
- Author Unknown
"A brother is a friend given by Nature."
- Jean Baptiste Legouve
"How do people make it through life without a sister?"
- Sara Corpening
"Sisterhood is powerful."
- Robin Morgan
"Sisters are for sharing laughter and wiping tears."
- Author Unknown
"There is no time like the old time, when you and I were young!"
- Oliver Wendell Holmes
"A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life."
- Isadora James
"It was nice growing up with someone like you - someone to lean on, someone to count on..."
- Author Unknown
"I sought my soul, but my soul I could not see. I sought my God, but my God eluded me. I sought my brother and I found all three."
- Author Unknown
"If I could pick the best brother, I would pick you!"
- Catherine Pulsifer
"Chance made us sisters, hearts made us friends."
- Author Unknown
"In thee my soul shall own combined the sister and the friend."
- Catherine Killigrew
"What's the good of news if you haven't a sister to share it"?
- Jenny DeVries
"Sisters are probably the most competitive relationship within the family, but once sisters are grown, it becomes the strongest relationship."
- Margaret Meed
Is solace anywhere more comforting than in the arms of a sister.
- Alice Walker
"A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost."
- Marion C. Garretty
"The highlight of my childhood was making my brother laugh so hard that food came out his nose."
- Garrison Keillor
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