Raksha Bandhan, is a very popular and traditional Hindu festival which falls on the full moon day of Shravan month of Hindu calendar every year. Raksha Bandhan is celebrated in India, Nepal and some other parts of Indian subcontinent. Though this tradition of women tying sacred thread to men’s wrist is centuries old where ladies would tie a sacred thread for the safety and wellbeing of men folks going for wars. With the course of time this ritual changed into sisters tying the rakhi or amulet to the right arms wrist of their brothers and praying for their prosperity, health and wellbeing who in return would give them gifts and money and promise sisters to protect and take care of them.

There are many stories in history where wives of kings tied rakhi or the sacred thread to other rulers and kings to seek help from them to protect their kingdom from enemy countries. The name Raksha Bandhan literally means ‘a bond for protection’. The tradition keeps evolving as time goes by and currently it is purely a festival of emotional bond between brothers and sisters which is full of love and compassion.

This is the time of the year in India when there is greenery all over in the countryside and people are in festive mood to enjoy the beautiful season of monsoon. All family members gather, and married girls of house come back to their parents’ home to celebrate rakhi with their brothers. On the Raksha Bandhan day, sister would tie the sacred thread or the amulet to the wrist of right hand of their brothers and brothers in return would give their sisters gifts and money out of affection and love. Brothers are supposed to take a woe to support and protect their sisters from any difficulties and this woe is renewed every year by celebrating this festival. Several historic folklores tell us about Raksha Bandhan or the festival of rakhi, crossing the race or religious lines. When a Hindu queen asked for help from a Muslim king by sending him a rakhi and the Muslim king respected and valued the rakhi tradition and came in defence of his rakhi sister, the Hindu queen.

Basically, the bonding between brother and sister is very unique and beyond description in words. Actually, the relationship and the bond between the siblings is always very special and is valued all over the world but when it comes to India, it is celebrated as a festival. This festival is also a constant reminder as well every year, to both brothers and sisters to continue fulfilling their obligations and to keep the relation intact. Lucky ones are those who have a brother or sister to celebrate this festival. This year rakhi festival falls on the Shravan Poornima day on August 3.

-Yugal Parashar