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Rakhi 2008 - The festivals of India portray
celebration of relationships, their belongingness
and oneness. A very special festival Raksha
Bandhan is the celebration of a special bond
between a sister and a brother. This festival,
therefore, epitomizes love, affection and feeling
of brotherhood. This Year Rakhi / Raksha Bandhan celebrates on 16th August 2008.
 Raksha
Bandhan as the name suggests, signifies
a bond of protection that is derived from raksha
meaning protection and bandhan meaning bound.
On this day of Shravan Purnima (full moon day
of shravan month), sisters tie Rakhi, a sacred
amulet made up of silky threads matted together
in an appealing style and festooned with beads
on their brothers' wrist. It is a way of praying
for their brothers' good health, wealth, happiness
and success. The brothers, likewise, promise
to protect their sisters from danger or evil
and also give them a token gift. This practice
fortifies their protective bond against all
ills and odds.
Traditional celebration of the festival starts
at the daybreak. The rakhis and the sweets
are bought and prepared generally before the
Purnima. As per the tradition the family members
get ready for the rituals early. They take a
bath to purify mind and body before starting
any preparations. The sisters prepare the thali for the pooja. It contains the rakhis, kumkum
powder, rice grains, diya (an earthern or a
metal lamp used for worshiping), incense sticks
and sweets.
First of all deities of the family are worshipped
in order to invoke their blessings. The sister
performs aarti of her brother, applies tilak
on his forehead and ties Rakhi, the sacred thread
to his wrist while chanting holy verses- "Yena
baddho Balee raajaa daanavendro mahaabalah
tena twaam anubadhnaami rakshe maa chala maa
chala". This mantra means, "Similar
to the rakhi tied to the mighty demon king,
Bali, I am tying one on your wrist. Rakhi please
do not abate but stay firm and determined".
Another verse that finds its place during
the ritual is the one in Punjabi- "Suraj
shakhan chhodian, Mooli chhodia beej Behen ne
rakhi bandhi / Bhai tu chir jug jee". This
one means, "The sun spreads out its sunlight,
the radish spreads its seeds, your sister is
tying the rakhi to you, dear brother may you
live long."
 The
sister then offers sweets to his brother and
the brother in turn blesses the sister and vows
to take care of her and stand by her through
thick and thin. The brother also gives a gift
to her as a token of his acknowledgement, love
and affection.
Nowhere other than India such extraordinary
festival marking celebration of brother- sister
relationship is celebrated with fervor, devotion
and zeal. This practice followed by almost every
Indian has been into the existence from past
so many centuries. The rich Indian Mythology
provides different religious reasons to celebrate
the day. This festival finds a mention in most
of the epics and its origin can be traced back
to Hindu folklore.
It is said that Yamuna, the sister of Yama,
the lord of death used to tie rakhi to his brother's
wrist on every Shravan Purnima.
The legend says that once Indra, the Pauranic
King of the Heavens, while warring with the
Demon King Bali was confronted with reverses.
Humbled, he sought after the advice of Brihaspati,
the Guru of the Gods. On the auspicious occasion
of Shravan Poornima, Indrani, the wife of Indra,
tied talisman popularly known as Raksha on Indra's
wrist. Consequently, Indra bested King Bali
and re-established sovereignty over his celestial
abode.
This signifies that Rakhi has been an
un-maligned prayer for goodwill and protection.
It symbolizes values that embody various relationships
even encompassing sibling relations. That is,
it personifies that raksha bandhan is not only
meant for siblings, but for safety of any loved
one. It could be tied by wife, a daughter or
mother.
The main primordial occurrence refers to the
invasion of Alexander the Great during 300 B.C.
It is said that Puru was a mighty Indian king.
Alexander of Macedonia had to face a great resistance
from him. Worried about her husband's safety,
Alexander's wife seeked audience with King Puru.
She requested him to accept her as his sister.
Puru obliged her and promised not to harm Alexander.
And when the opportunity came during the war,
he refrained from Alexander. The Rakhi on Puru's
hand is said to be the savior of Alexander.
During the medieval era, the Mughal rulers
were invading the Rajput kingdoms. Rakhi
at that time meant a spiritual binding and a
call for help. A famous incident relates how
rakhi by then had broken the religious barriers.
When Rani Karnawati the widowed queen of the
king of Chittor realized that she could in no
way defend the invasion of the Sultan of Gujarat,
Bahadur Shah, she sent a rakhi to Emperor Humayun.
The Emperor touched by the gesture started off
with his troops without wasting any time.
Rabindranath Tagore started Rakhi Utsavs
in Shanti Niketan. It was a congregation
signifying the pleasant liaison amongst the
community. It was a vow to re-establish the
bond of love between all sects and religions
of society. This was in order to bring in universal
attitude towards this day.
 In
comparison, today Raksha Bandhan is one
unique festival eagerly awaited in the month
of August during Shravan Purnima. This day has
significance beyond the brother- sister bond.
It is called Naryali Purnima or coconut full
moon in the coastal areas of India. The day
is devoted to the Rain God Indra and the Sea
God Varuna (gods of water that is the basis
of life). The coconuts are offered to the Gods
toplease them and seek out their blessings.
Coconut is considered to be a symbol of three-eyed
God, Lord Shiva. Throwing the coconut in the
sea makes the offering. It is said that Lord
Rama started for Lanka to rescue Sita on this
day. He crossed the sea from the bridge made
by the Vanar Sena by throwing stones in water.
The fishing season starts now for the fishermen.
Also, people begin their voyages on this day,
certain that the seas have calmed down and it
is a propitious day.
The farmers celebrate it as "Kajri Purnima".
They start the sowing of wheat on this day and
pray for a good crop to the God.
The day is very important for the Brahmins as
well. It is also called as "Avani Avittam
or Upakarmam" in southern parts of India.
'Rishi Tarpan or the Shravani Ceremony' marks
this day. On this day they change their holy
thread called the Janeyu or the Yajnopavit amidst
the chanting of mantras. The Janeyu represents
observance of Vedic culture, adherence of Hindu
traditions and service to people with compassion.
The sweets made of coconut are served after
the ceremony.
Raksha Bandhan is celebrated as "Pavitropana"
in Gujarat. On this day, people perform
grand pooja or worship the three-eyed god, Lord
Shiva. It is the finale of the prayers done
through out the year.
The day is all about raksha or protection, not just for self but also for the loved ones.
It dictates the values of togetherness and self-
perseverance. Each ritual has an important connotation,
which varies with different regions and communities.
Preparations for the festival begin well in
advance. The market pulsates with activity.
One can see colorful rakhis everywhere. Hand
made rakhis may just represent personal feelings
of the siblings. The rakhi tying ritual has
become so much a part of the families that come
what may brothers and sisters try to reach out
to each other on this particular day, thereby,
bringing back the oneness of the family, binding
the family together in an emotional bond. But
for those who are unable to visit each other
due to some valid reason, Rakhi Cards have been
introduced in the market which extend the feeling
of warmth and can be send across to your loved
ones. Also, e-mails, e-rakhis and rakhis through
mails perform the part of communicating the
rakhi messages.
 The
sweet shops have different scrumptious sweets
and gift shops have diverse range of rakhis
and gifts to attract the buyers, young and old.
Nowadays, chocolates and cookies are being looked
as other options to the sweets that are exchanged.
It is a much-awaited festival for the siblings.
Not just a thread tying ceremony, it is the
reunion and the transcendent sentiments that
call for the celebration.
The festival has been celebrated in the same
way with the same traditions for centuries.
Only the means have changed with the changing
lifestyles. As per the traditions, the sister
on this day prepares the pooja thali with diya,
roli, chawal and rakhis. She worships the deities,
ties Rakhi to the brother(s) and wishes for
their well being by chanting holy verses. The
brother in turn acknowledges the love with a
promise to protect his sister from all evils
and gives her return gift as a sign of his promise
and affection. Then after these rituals start
the celebrations. It is a sort of family reunion
and get together and calls for revelry. Delicious
traditional goodies and delicacies are prepared
at home early in the morning. The tradition
of exchange of sweets and gifts is also an important
part of this festival. There is a mood of joy,
love and bliss in the air.
Raksha Bandhan assumes all forms of Raksha
or protection, of rectitude and destroyer
of all sins. It is a tacit word exchanged between
a brother and a sister bolstering their abiding
and chaste relationship. Also, through varied
celebrations of this day, India yet again illustrates
its harmony among the diversity. This simple
and pious rite avows the belief and reliance
not only amongst the individuals, but also for
the society. It plays a major role of humanity
by strengthening the bond between the people
and arousing the feeling of belongingness amongst
them. It fills colors, fervor and excitement
amongst their otherwise mundane lives. In true
sense, Raksha Bandhan is a special sought after
festival looked forward by all.
By Pawandeep Kaur
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