Raksha Bandhan

Raksha Bandhan

The festival, which expresses love, care and duty among brother and sister also with joy and happiness, is called “Raksha Bandhan”. The meaning of Raksha Bandhan is “the tie or knot of protection” where Raksha means protection and Bandhan means knot. So, when sister tie a knot on her brother’s wrist, brother gives her promises in return that he will take care of her throughout her life in all circumstances. This holy festival falls on the day of full moon in the month of Shravan maas; so, also known as “shravni purnima”.

Basically, the festival is for Hindu religion but now all communities celebrate this festival in different customs so it is also known as secular and multicultural festival. In India, different states celebrate this sacred festival with different rituals. In Uttarakhand kumaon religion people change their janaue on that day and called it as Janopunyu and in Maharashtra the festival is celebrated as Narali Purnima or Shravani Purnima where Narali means coconut. In different parts of Maharashtra especially fishermen community offer Nariyal into sea to please God Varun (God of sea) and also they believe that new season of fishing starts on this day.

Raksha Bandhan is the favorite festival of siblings or cousin brother sister. To celebrate this auspicious day, ladies starts preparation many days before such as they buy rakhi made up of colorful threads and stones from the market. Mehandi is also the part of this festival as girls apply mehandi on their hand for this occasion. On this special day, sisters prepare Pooja thali with kumkum, rice, diya, sweet and Rakhi. Sister ties Rakhi on her brother’s wrist and apply roli chawal on his forehead as tilak and in 

return brother takes pledge to keep her protected from any difficulty all over the life.

In India, Raksha Bandhan is celebrated as secular festival which involves all communities in bond of brother sister love and affection whether it is Muslims or Christians. The festival is not only for biologically related brother and sister, it is also for those people who are biologically unrelated, they also shows their feelings of love and care towards each other by celebrating this festival. This tradition is also celebrated among political leaders where women and girls tie rakhi to Prime minister, politicians, social leaders and also soldiers’s hands assuming them brother.