"Raksha Bandhan" -The Indian Festival

                                                      Raksha Bandhan

          Raksha Bandhan means the bond of protection. Commonly Raksha Bandhan is known as Rakhi.This festival celebrates the eternal bond of love between brother and sister. It is an ancient Indian festival. Rakhi plays a very important role in Hindu festivals.It is known as the day of Love and bond of protection. Like every other Indian festival, Rakhi is also celebrated grandly with singing, dancing, and gathering of the close relatives.

          Raksha Bandhan usually comes in August on the full moon day(Purnima) of Shravana. Rakhi celebrates every brother-sister like relationship even if men and women are not biologically related. This day is related to Bhai Duj, Bhai Tika.

                                                                         

       
          Rakhi means a sacred thread which sister ties on her brother's wrist with lots of love, Care, and also she does prayers for his happiness. Rakhi shows her unconditional love for her brother. In return, brother gives her a lifetime unbreakable promise to protect her for her whole life.

Rituals and Practices

                           There are certain rituals and practices on how Rakhi is typically celebrated.

Preparations for Rakhi: Rakhi preparations start with the start of August month. Women's start shopping for the occasion of Rakhi(Markets in India gets decorated with the products related to the upcoming festival). Sister gets the Rakhi from the market that she likes for her brother, she also brings sweets, gifts etc. Some of the women make their own Rakhi. Many types of Rakhi are available, Some are a simple colorful thread, or may be with heavy decoration. For children, Rakhis are decorated with cartoons, lights or some types of games.
                                                           

Ritual: The brother and sister come together on this day, All family members celebrate this festival with love. Sister prepares an Aarti thali with a candle(Diya) for puja and puts sweets in it. Sister and Brother sit in front of each other, then sister ties Rakhi on brother's wrist. Sister prays for the good health, wealth, and happiness of her brother. She then does Aarti by rotating the Aarti thali in front of brother's face and prays for his wellness. She then applies tikka, the colorful mark, on his forehead. Then she feeds one or more bites of sweets to her brother. After all the Rakhi rituals, All the family members and relatives hug each other and exchange gifts. 

          On the day of Rakhi, Sometimes the brother or sister is geographically far away and can't celebrate Rakhi together. Then the sister sends Rakhi and cards through the post with lots of blessings for her brother.

Mythical Origins of Raksha Bandhan

                                   There are various tales about the origins of Raksha Bandhan.

1)Indra Dev: In the war between Gods and Demons, Unfortunately, the demons were in stronger position. Indra(The deity of rain, sky, and thunderbolts) was disgraced by King Bali(Demon king).

Shachi (Indra's wife also known as Indrani) consulted Vishnu, who gave her a holy bracelet made of cotton thread. Shachi tied that holy thread around Indra's wrist for his safety. Indra was successful in defeating the Demons.

                      This story inspired the protective power of holy thread. According to this, women gave the holy thread to the men going to war and prayed for their safety.

2)King Bali and Goddess Lakshmi: As stated in Bhagvata Purna and Vishnu Purna, When Vishnu won the three worlds from Demon King Bali. Bali asked Vishnu to stay with him at his Kingdom. Goddes Lakshmi(Vishnu's wife) didn't liked to stay in Bali's Kingdom and new friendship of Vishnu with Bali. So, she tied a Rakhi around Bali's wrist and made him her brother. Bali asked Lakshmi what gift she desires for. Lakshmi told him to make Vishnu to be freed. Bali agreed to this request and accepted Lakshmi as Sister. 

3)Krishna and Draupadi: In the epic Mahabharata, Draupadi tied a Rakhi on Krishna's wrist, while Kunti tied a Rakhi on her grandson Abhimanyu's wrist, before the great war.

4)Yama and Yamuna: Yama(God of Death), had not visited his sister Yamuna for 12 years. Yamuna was sad and consulted Ganga. Ganga reminded about Yamuna to Yama, upon which Yama went to visit Yamuna. Yamuna was overjoyed to see him and prepared a bounty of food for him. Delighted God Yama, asked Yamuna for what she wanted as a gift. She wished that Yama, her brother should see her again soon. Yama was moved by this sister's love, he agreed to see her again and made river Yamuna immortal.

                                                                     

History of Raksha Bandhan

                                 Raksha Bandhan is an ancient festival having its history dates back thousands of years.

1)Alexander the Great and King Puru: When Alexander the Great invaded India in 326 BCE, Roshanak(Alexander's wife) sent a sacred thread to Porus, asking him not to harm her husband in the battle. According to the tradition, Porus gave full respect to the Rakhi. While in the battle, when Porus saw Rakhi on his wrist, He restrained himself from attacking Alexander personally.

2)Rani Karnavati and Emperor Humayun: A controversial history which dates to 1535 CE. When Rani Karnawati, the widowed queen of the King of Chittor, realized that she could not stop the invasion of Sultan of Gujarat, Bahadur Shah, She sent a rakhi to Emperor Humayun. The Emperor, set off with his troops to defend Chittor. But, he arrived too late and Bahadur Shah had already captured the Rani's fortress.

3)Sikh History: In the 18th century, Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair, Sikh Khalsa armies introduced Rakhi(Raksha Bandhan) as a promise to protect the farmers from Muslim armies, such as the Mughals and Afghans, in exchange the farmers will share a cut of their produce.
       
                          Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the founder and ruler of Sikh empire, and he observed the festival of Raksha Bandhan. Maharani Jindan(Maharaja Ranjit Singh's wife) sent Rakhi to the ruler of Nepal, who accepted her as Sister. After the collapse of Sikh empire by the British, The ruler of Nepal gave Maharani Jindan a refuge in the Hindu Kingdom in Nepal.

4)Multi-culturism and activism: Some Muslims in India, view it as a secular multicultural festival. Raksha Bandhan has also been adopted by the Christian communities in India, who view it as a festival of social and historical importance.

                                                                    

Regional Variations

          Raksha Bandhan is celebrated in different ways in different regions.

1)West Bengal and Odisha: On Raksha Bandhan, the people in these regions do prayers and Puja of Lord Krishna and Radha. Women tie Rakhi on their brother's wrist. In these regions, this day is also called as Jhulan Purnima.

2)Maharashtra: In Maharashtra, Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on coconut day festival(Narali Purnima). According to their rituals, they throw coconuts into the sea as offerings to Lord Varuna(The Hindu God of Sea) and do prayers to get blessings. Sisters tie Rakhi on their brother's wrist.

3)Jammu(Kashmir): In the northern regions of India, they fly kites on Rakhi and Janmashtami. They bring kilometers of strong jute string, which is locally called as "Gatta door" along with numerous kites.

4)Nepal: In Nepal, This day is called as Janai Purnima. This day is celebrated by both Hindus and Buddhists of Nepal. Hindu men change the thread that they wear around their chest(Janai), while in some parts of Nepal women tie Rakhi on their brother's wrist a Raksha Bandhan like festival is celebrated on one of the days of Diwali(Tihar festival).


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