Rakhi-Raksha Bandhan

Rakhi is known to be a festival to celebrate the bond between a brother and a sister. This festival also symbolizes the emotional bond between them. The relationship between brothers and sisters has lots of regard and purity attached to it. Hindu Religion devotes an entire day of the year for the celebration of this pious relationship. This day is celebrated as a special festival and is called 'Rakhi' or 'Raksha-Bandhan'. The literal meaning of 'Raksha-Bandhan' is 'the bond of protection'. On Rakhi it is customary that the brothers makes a promise to his sister to protect and safeguard her against all the evil forces.

Though Rakhi festival emphasizes on the special importance on the brother and sister yet, the entire family, relatives, celebrate this festival with good zeal and enthusiasm. Thus the festival of Rakhi not only represents the siblings' emotional bond but is also an occasion where the family gets together. It is an occasion for reviving relationships and social harmony.

With time the concept of celebrating Rakhi festival has been changing. In the ancient times, especially in the Vedic period of the Indian history; Rakhi has been a symbol of seeking help or protection from the powerful ones by the weaker ones. This festival was never just about the siblings' relationship only as it is generally believed to be today. From time to time the concepts of this festival's celebrations have changed a lot but the basic idea of 'a bond of protection' has remained unchanged.

Even in the modern times celebration of the Rakhi festival is beyond factors such as caste systems, religious issues, haves and have-not differences and other such boundaries. For instance, people from all over the country either personally tie the Rakhi or send it through postal services, to their brothers wherever they might be. It is the spirit of Indians that this festival is celebrated throughout India in a joyous mood.

History:

Hindu scriptures and mythology are the source of all Hindu rituals and festivals. There are explanations for all the Hindu traditions and customs in the religious Hindu texts. The origin of Rakhi as a festival is also rooted in the Hindu mythology.

There is no confirmed date and time available about the history of Rakhi festival but the story goes as follows.

On a 'Shravan Poornima' day that is a Full Moon Day of the Hindu month of Shravan, the deities and the demons are in a battle against each other. Unfortunately the demons were in a better position as compared to the deities. The king of all the deities, Lord Indra, was really worried about the result of the battle. Then his wife Indrani (Shashikala) could not take her husbands pain and prayed to the almighty. Indrani was a very religious lady so she prepared a sacred thread with her religious power and tied it around Indra's right wrist. She thought that this thread would safeguard Indra against the demons. She was right about her belief because that day the deities won the battle and Lord Indra was unhurt.

As this sacred thread had the power of protecting the one who tied it, it was called as the 'Raksha Sutra' and the ceremony of tying this thread is called as 'Raksha Bandhan'. Since then this ceremony was celebrated on Shravan Poornima' day. Today the concept of protection still continues and has become a tradition every year.