Raksha Bandhan: The festival of the sacred bond between brothers and sisters


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By Dr Eugene DSouza Moodubelle
Pictures by Anil Alva
Bellevision Media Network

24 August 2010: Besides the bond between parents and children, the bond between brothers and sisters has been considered as sacred and lasting in Indian tradition. The special day set aside to celebrate the affection and bond between the siblings is the full moon day in the month of Shravan. Thus, this full moon day has been known by many names such as ‘Shravani Pournima’, ‘Rakhi Pournima’ or ‘Raksha Bandhan’. Fishermen in coastal Maharashtra celebrate this day as ‘Narali Pournima’. This year the Raksha Bandhan falls on Tuesday, 24 August 2010.

Raksha Bandhan is an ancient tradition. On the Raksha Bandhan Day, sisters invite their brothers to their houses and after performing ’aarti’ and putting tilak on the forehead of their brothers, tie a sort of bracelet made of silk or cotton thread with a decorative piece on top made of different materials commonly known as ‘Rakhi’. Sisters then urge their brothers to protect them in all situations. Sisters offer sweets to their brothers and in return brothers then offer some gifts to their sisters and promise them that they would protect them in any situation. The ritual Raksha Bandhan renews the bond of affection between siblings and signifies the brothers’ responsibility of protecting their sisters all their lives.

Basically, Raksha Bandhan had been a festival celebrated by Rajput women since ancient times. However, it gradually spread to other parts of India and has become one of the most popular festivals.

There are a number of mythological and historical narrations to the origin of the festival of Raksha Bandhan. According to one account, there was a battle between Indra and demons. Indra’s sister took a silk thread, charged it with sacred verses for protection and tied it on Indra’s hand. With the strength of this thread, it is said that, Indra was successful in conquering his enemies.

According to another mythological story, the demon king Mahabali was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. Because of his great devotion, Vishnu had taken upon himself the task of protecting Mahabali’s kingdom for which he had to leave his abode. In order to be close to her consort, Goddess Lakshmi went to king Mahabali disguised as a Brahmin woman and took refuge in his palace. On Shravana Pournima, she tied a Rakhi on king Mahabli’s wrist and she revealed who she was and the reason behind being in his palace. King Mahabali was deeply touched by Goddess Lakshmi’s devotion to her consort Lord Vishnu and the goodwill of Lord Vishnu towards him and requested Lord Bishnu to accompany Goddess Lakshmi back to Vaikuntdham.

Historically, 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, Alexander of Macedonia was shaken by the bravery of the Indian king Porus in his first attempt. Upset by this, Alexander’s wife, who had heard of the Rakhi festival, approached king Porus and tied Rakhi on his wrist. King Porus magnanimously accepted Alexander’s wife as his sister and when the opportunity came during the war, king Porus refrained from hurting Alexander.

The most credible historical reference to the tradition of Rakhi has been the story of Rani Karnavati and the Mughal Emperor Humayun. When the ruler of Gujarat, Bahadur Shah was on the course of invasion of Chittor, the capital of Mewar, Rani Karnavati, the widowed queen of the Rana of Mewar, realising that she had no way to defend her people and the capital, sent a Rakhi to Emperor Humayun who came to her rescue.

In the coastal region, especially in Maharashtra, the Shravan Pournima is being celebrated as Narali Pournima by the fishermen. On this day, the fishermen offer coconuts to the sea in order to appease the Sea God so that he may protect them while venturing into the sea for fishing and also bless them with bountiful of fish which is their main source of livelihood. Following the prayer and offering of coconuts to the Sea God, the fishermen set out in the sea with their beautifully decorated fishing boats. With the monsoon season gradually withdrawing and sea being more friendly, the Narali Pournima marks the beginning of the fishing season not only in coastal Maharashtra but also on the entire stretch of the west coast.

 

Prior to the Raksha Bandhan Day, sisters purchase Rakhis from the shops which do brisk business during this season. The Rakhis are of veried sizes and designs from simple ones to more elaborate and expensive. If the brothers stay far away from sisters and if they cannot visit each other, there is also the custom of sisters sending the Rakhis to their brothers through post or couriers. As he communication has become much easier sisters and brothers can also exchange Raksha Bandhan messages through SMS and E-mails.

 

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Comments on this Article
jeannie, New York, NY Thu, March-17-2011, 9:52
Hello, Thank you for your article! I am living in the USA and would like to buy some rakhis with the colorful pom poms, like you have a photo of in picture number 5. Would you tell me where I can buy some or if they are under a different name? Thank you so much, Jeannie
ajay sharma, chandausi India Mon, August-23-2010, 10:36
raksha bandhan is the most important festival of hindus in India. We wish a happy happy good wishes of Indian siblings.
pravin, australia Mon, August-23-2010, 8:46
i like festival of rakshabandhan this articale is very good.
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