The festival of Raksha Bandhan is
celebrated with considerable splendour among members of the Hindu faith,
especially in India, as a token of protection and affection between siblings. This
is also known as Rakhi or Rakshabandhan, during Raksha Bandhan, the ceremonial
Rakhi is tied on the wrists of the siblings.
It's a time-honoured protective ritual,
the best present siblings can offer each other, and it honours the unbreakable
tie that exists between them. While "Raksha" literally means
"protect," "Bandhan" means "bond," and the Raksha
Bandhan festival is a celebration of this unbreakable link that exists between
siblings with a pledge to always be there to protect, no matter what the
circumstances.
The auspicious brother-sister the relationship is honoured on Raksha Bandhan, which means “bond of protection”. On
the full moon day or Purnima, in the Hindu calendar month of Shravana, the
Hindu festival is celebrated. It will be commemorated this year on Sunday,
August 22nd. A sister ties a thread around her brother's wrist on
this day as a mark of her unwavering faith in him and her prayers for his long
life.
In exchange, the brother vows to make
her happy at all times and to keep her safe from harm. The celebration honours
the relationship that exists between brothers and sisters. Amid a large party,
gifts are exchanged. In several parts of India, sisters wrap the beautiful
thread around their brothers' wrists. While it can be tied any time of the day,
there is a certain time when the age-old tradition of tying the Rakhi should be
carried out.
The Purnima Tithi for Raksha Bandhan
2021, according to the Hindu Panchangam, will begin at 7 p.m. on August 21st
and end at 5:31 p.m. on August 22nd. The auspicious time for tying
the Rakhi, however, will begin at 6:15 a.m. on August 22nd and end
at 5:31 p.m. on the same day. However, the scriptures state that tying the
Rakhi should not be done during the Bhadra phase of the day (late evening to
early dawn, depending on the time of year) because it is believed that certain
negative forces are present during this time.
Legends
of Raksha Bandhan
·
Raksha Bandhan has its
origins in a well-known episode from the Mahabharata epic. Lord Krishna was
once flying a kite when the string cut one of his fingers. To stop the
bleeding, Draupadi tore a piece of her sari and tied it around Krishna's
finger. Lord Krishna was moved by this act and remarked, "Akshyam,"
which means "may it be endless." That proved to be a blessing for
Draupadi during ‘Vastraharan,' as her sari became endless, saving her from the
humiliation of being disrobed in front of the entire court of King Dhritarashtra.
·
Draupadi is said to
have tied a Rakhi on Krishna's wrist after he damaged his finger while using
his Sudarshana chakra against the monarch Shishupala during the Mahabharata.
Draupadi tore a piece of her sari and tied it around Krishna's hand as it was
bleeding. Krishna was so touched by this gesture that in return, he vowed that
he would always be there to protect and cherish her.
·
Bali begged Lord Vishnu
to stay with him in his palace after Lord Vishnu beat him, according to the
Bhagavata Purana and the Vishnu Purana. Lord Vishnu agreed to Bali's request,
but Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Vishnu's wife, was not pleased. She disguised herself
and put a Rakhi around his wrist in Bali. When Bali inquired about what she
wants as a present from Goddess Lakshmi, she requested that Lord Vishnu be
released from his request to stay with him in his palace. Bali accepted since
he had made a promise to Lakshmi, his now-sister.
·
According to another
version, Yamuna was upset since her brother Yama (the deity of death) had not
visited her in almost a year, and she expressed her sadness to Ganga. Yama
learned about it from Ganga and decided to pay a visit to the Yamuna. Yama was
pleased to see all of Yamuna's hard work and preparation for her brother's
arrival when she met her. Yama,
moved by his sister's affection, rewarded her with immortality in exchange for
tying a Rakhi on his wrist.
Likewise, there are many more legends
that are associated with Raksha Bandhan.
Celebration
A girl or a woman applies a tilak on her
brother's forehead and ties a Rakhi around his wrist in a rite that reaffirms
her brother's bond and support. She receives a present from her brother and
entrusts them with the task of looking after her.
When a girl or woman wraps a Rakhi
around her brother's wrist, he swears to protect her from all of life's
challenges and to bless her. Rakhi bands come in many forms and sizes nowadays,
and you can choose the one that best depicts your sibling bond.
If one does not have an older brother,
rakhis are occasionally attached to friends and distant relatives, especially
in the case of single children. The essence of the Rakhi remains the same,
regardless of how it is carried out: it is tied to someone who has been loving
and nurturing towards you and has always looked out for you, regardless of
gender or relationship.