We Indians love celebrating festivals. They hold a special place in our hearts. It reminds us that we are alive and that life is beautiful. Festivals also play a major role in our culture and religion. It helps us connect to our ancestors and history. And I believe it is very important for us to know about our culture in order to move forward.
Rakshabandhan is no different. It connects us to our age-old culture of love and brotherhood. Sisters tie a sacred thread around their brother’s wrist, hoping that this thread would protect the brother from any harm.
This is a festival that is held throughout the country, and every sister, irrespective of age, class, marital status, etc., visits their brothers and ties this holy thread around the wrists of their brother(s). This thread is said to have magical powers and can help an individual fight all kinds of evil, and not just bodily harm. So without further ado, let me introduce you to my favourite festival, Rakshabandhan.
History
The very word “Raksha” means to protect somebody. While the word “Bandhan” means an unbreakable bond. So, the rough translation clearly suggests a “protection bond.” However, this is just a surface meaning of the word, and there are other distinctive aspects that you need to know before proceeding.
This occasion usually comes during the time of August and is celebrated during a full moon day. Although typically, this is celebrated by people hailing from the northern and western parts of India. However, currently this is a pan-India phenomenon. This day is also known as the Rakhi Purnima or Kajri Purnima.
Even though Rakshabandhan is a celebration of sibling love, during its inception, the scope of the celebration was broader. This thread was not only tied to a brother’s wrist but can be tied around anyone’s wrist who you want to protect. Therefore, during older days, contemporary priests would tie this thread around their kings to safeguard them from any dangers.
Mentions of Raksha Bandhan can even be found in ancient mythological texts. Like for example, Lord Indra’s wife Sachi tied a Raksha Bandhan thread around Indra’s wrist to protect him from the evil king Bali. As a result, in the western part of the Indian subcontinent, wives conduct this ceremony with their husbands.
Rakhi can also be seen as an olive branch amongst rivals. Like for example, Mewar’s Rani Karnavati sent a rakhi to the Mughal emperor Humayun in order to ask for help. Humayun agreed to this request and led a battalion against Sultan Bahadur Shah.
In the most recent events, Rabindranath Tagore used the concept of Rakha Bandhan to stop the partition of Bengal. Although the idea was not enough to topple political agendas, it certainly shows how important the festival of Raksha Bandhan is for us Indians.
Celebration
The effects of the celebration can be easily felt several days before the actual festival. The markets would fill up with interesting-looking goodies for Raksha Bandhan. Therefore, it is not just a celebration but also a huge business that affects many livelihoods. Shopkeepers would often decorate their shops and make them look absolutely mesmerizing.
Once you hit the market for Rakhi Shopping, you will find that there are several different types of rakhi ranging from low to higher prices. Sometimes, the prices of these rakhis can go really high. Therefore, it is a complete business based on the celebration of Raksha Bandhan.
Apart from the ritual of Raksha Bandhan, where a sister ties a blessed thread of protection called rakhi around her brother’s wrist. Rakhi is also the festival of food and celebration. It is a time when we get to meet our whole family and interact with them. It brings all our family members together. Therefore, Raksha Bandhan is an integral part of our culture. It is one of the celebrations that is all about love and togetherness.
Conclusion
The rakhi is a sacred thread that symbolizes the bondage of love and unity. According to traditions, the sacred thread called Rakhi is meant to protect the wearer and to ward off evil. Therefore, making somebody wear rakhi is an indirect way of saying that you want the person to be safe and happy. Although this is a festival that celebrates sibling love, Rakhi is not limited to this only. In several cultures, wives tie the rakhi around their husband’s wrists in order to show their devotion and love toward them. Even though this is primarily a northern Indian festival, but in recent years this has amassed a huge popularity amongst people. As a result, it has now become a pan-Indian celebration. In fact, the celebration is so important that it also played a key role during the partition of Bengal. Therefore, it is truly one of the more prominent festivals of this subcontinent.
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Author Bio:
With 5 years of experience in the field, Amelia Moore is an online entrepreneur by profession and a passionate blogger and content writer. She loves to write content about Pets, Travel, Entertainment, fashion, and many more. She has experience at the Pets Magazine, the dating dairy, Ev authority , The Cashino Magazine, The CBD Magazine, The bitcoin Magazine
