Raksha
Bandhan is a Hindu festival that celebrates the love and duty
between brothers and sisters; the festival is also popularly used to celebrate
any brother-sister like loving protective relationship between men and women
who are relatives or biologically unrelated. It is called Rakhi Purnima,
or simply Rakhi, in many parts of India. The festival is observed by
Hindus, Jains, and many Sikhs. Raksha Bandhan is primarily observed
in India, Mauritius and parts of Nepal. It is also celebrated by
Hindus and Sikhs in parts of Pakistan, and by some people of
Indian origin around the world.
Raksha
Bandhan is an ancient festival, and has many myths and historic legends linked
to it. For example, the Rajput queens practised the custom of sending rakhi
threads to neighbouring rulers as token of brotherhood. On Raksha Bandhan,
sisters tie a rakhi (sacred thread) on her brother's wrist. This
symbolizes the sister's love and prayers for her brother's well-being, and the
brother's lifelong vow to protect her. The festival falls on the full
moon day (Shravan Poornima) of the Shravan month of
the Hindu lunisolar calendar.
Significance
Raksha
Bandhan in Sanskrit literally means "the tie or knot of
protection". It is an ancient Hindu festival that ritually celebrates
the love and duty between brothers and their sisters. The sister performs
a Rakhi ceremony, then prays to express her love and her wish for the
well being of her brother; in return, the brother ritually pledges to protect
and take care of his sister under all circumstances. It is one of the several
occasions in which family ties are affirmed in India.
The
festival is also an occasion to celebrate brother-sister like family ties
between cousins or distant family members, sometimes between biologically
unrelated men and women. To many, the festival transcends biological family,
brings together men and women across religions, diverse ethnic groups and
ritually emphasizes harmony and love. It is observed in the Hindu calendar
month of Śrāvaṇa,
and typically falls in August every year.
Description and rituals
The
festival is marked by the several rituals, which vary regionally within India.
Typical rituals include:
Prepare for Raksha Bandhan
Days
or weeks before Raksha Bandhan, women shop for Rakhi, the ceremonial thread to
tie around her brother's (or brother-like friend's) wrist. Some women make
their own Rakhi. A Rakhi may be a simple thread, woven and colorful; or a
Rakhi may be intricate with amulets and decoration on top of it. Sometimes, a
Rakhi may be a wrist watch or men's wrist accessory in the form of bracelet or
jewelry. Rakhi in the form of a colorful woven thread is most common. Typically
the brother(s) too shop for gifts for the sister, ahead of Raksha Bandhan. The
gift from the brother can be a simple thoughtful token of love, and may be more
elaborate.
Rakhi ritual
On
the morning of Raksha Bandhan, the brother(s) and sister(s) get together, often
in nice dress in the presence of surviving parents, grandparents and other
family members. If the sister and brother are geographically separated, the
sister may mail the Rakhi ahead of the Raksha Bandhan day, along with a
greeting card or letter wishing her brother well. The ritual typically begins
in front of a lighted lamp (diya) or candle, which signifies fire deity. The
sister and brother face each other. The sister ties the Rakhi on her brother's
wrist.
Prayer, aarti, promise and food
Once
the Rakhi has been tied, the sister says a prayer for the well being - good
health, prosperity and happiness - for her brother. This ritual sometimes
involves an aarti, where a tray with lighted lamp or candle is ritually rotated
around the brother's face, along with the prayer and well wishes.
The
prayer is a self composed note, or one of many published Rakhi poems
and prose. One of the earliest examples of a Rakhi prayer is found in
Book V, Chapter V of Vishnu Purana; it is the prayer
that Yasoda says while tying a Raksha Bandhan amulet on
Krishna's wrist. An abridged form of the prayer is:
May
the lord of all beings protect you,
May the one who creates, preserves and dissolves life protect thee,
May Govinda guard thy head; Kesava, thy neck; Vishnu, thy belly;
the eternal Narayana, thy face, thine arms, thy mind, and faculties of sense;
May all negativity and fears, spirits malignant and unfriendly, flee thee;
May Rishikesa keep you safe in the sky; and Mahidhara, upon earth.
After
the prayer, the sister applies a tilak, a colorful mark on the forehead of
the brother. After the tilak, the brother pledges to protect her and take
care of his sister under all circumstances.
The
sister then feeds the brother, with her hands, one or more bites
of sweets (desserts), dry fruits and other seasonal delicacies.
Gifts and hugs
The
brother gives his sister(s) gifts such as cards, clothes, money or something
thoughtful. The brother may also feed his sister, with his hands, one or more
bites of sweets, dry fruits and other seasonal delicacies. They hug, and the
larger family ritually congratulate the festive celebration of brother-sister
love and protection.
The
brother(s) wear the Rakhi for the entire day, at school or work, as a reminder
of their sister(s) and to mark the festival of Raksha Bandhan.
Myths and parables
The
scriptures, epics and ancient fiction of Hinduism is peppered with stories
of Rakhi and Raksha Bandhan. Some of these include:
Indra Dev:- According
to Hindu scripture Bhavishya Purana, in the war between Gods and
demons, Indra - the deity of sky, rains and thunderbolts - was
disgraced by the powerful demon King Bali. Indra’s wife Sachi
consulted Vishnu, who gave her a bracelet made of cotton thread, calling
it holy. Sachi tied the holy thread around Indra wrist, blessed with her
prayers for his well being and success. Indra successfully defeated the evil
and recovered Amaravati. This story inspired the protective power of holy
thread.
King Bali and Goddess Laxmi:- According to this legend, credited to Hindu
scriptures Bhagavata Purana and Vishnu Purana, after Vishnu won
the three worlds from the demon King Bali, he was asked by Bali that Vishnu
live in his palace, a request Vishnu granted. Vishnu's wife,
Goddess Lakshmi did not like the palace or his new found friendship
with Bali, and preferred that her husband and she return to Vaikuntha. So
she went to Bali, tied a Rakhi and made him a brother. Bali asked her
what gift she desired. Lakshmi asked that Vishnu be freed from the request that
he live in Bali's palace. Bali consented, as well accepted her as his sister.
Santoshi Ma:- Ganesh had
two sons, Shubh and Labh. On Raksha Bandhan, Ganesh's sister visited and tied
a Rakhi on Ganesh's wrist. The two boys become frustrated that they
have no sister to celebrate Raksha Bandhan with. They ask their father Ganesh
for a sister, but to no avail. Finally, saint Narada appears who persuades
Ganesh that a daughter will enrich him as well as his sons. Ganesh agreed, and
created a daughter named Santoshi Ma by divine flames that emerged from
Ganesh's wives,Rddhi (Amazing) and Siddhi (Perfection).
Thereafter, Shubh Labh (literally "Holy Profit") had a sister named
Santoshi Ma (literally "Goddess of Satisfaction"), who loved and
protected each other.
Krishna and Draupadi:- In the
epic Mahabharat, Draupadi tied
a Rakhi to Krishna, while Kunti tied
her Rakhi to her grandson Abhimanyu, before the great war.
Yama and the Yamuna:- According to another legend, Yama, the god of Death had
not visited his sister Yamuna for 12 years. Yamuna, the goddess of
Yamuna river, was sad and consulted Ganga, the goddess of Ganga river. Ganga
reminded Yama of his sister, upon which Yama visits her. Yamuna was overjoyed
to see her brother, and prepared a bounty of food for Yama. The god Yama was
delighted, and asked Yamuna what she wanted for gift. She wished that he, her
brother should return and see her again soon. Yama was moved by his sister's
love, agreed and to be able to see her again, made river Yamuna immortal. This
legend is the basis for a Raksha Bandhan-like festival called Bhai Duj in some
parts of India, which also celebrates brother-sister love, but
near Diwali.
Historical references
Alexander the Great and King Puru:- According to one legendary narrative,
when Alexander the Great invaded India in 326 BCE, Roxana (or
Roshanak, his wife) sent a sacred thread to Porus, asking him not to harm her
husband in battle. In accordance with tradition, Porus,
a Katoch king, gave full respect to the rakhi. On the battlefield,
when Porus was about to deliver a final blow to Alexander, he saw the rakhi on
his own wrist and restrained himself from attacking Alexander personally.
Rani Karnavati and Emperor Humayun:- A popular narrative that is centered around
Rakhi is that of Rani Karnavati of Chittor and Mughal
Emperor Humayun, which dates to 1535 CE. When Rani Karnavati, the widowed
queen of the king of Chittor, realised that she could not defend against the
invasion by the Sultan of Gujarat, Bahadur Shah, she sent a Rakhi to
Emperor Humayun. Touched, the Emperor immediately set off with his troops
to defend Chittor. Humayun arrived too late, and Bahadur Shah managed to
sack the Rani's fortress. Karnavati, along with a reported 13,000 other women
in the fortress, carried out Jauhar on March 8, 1535, killing
themselves to avoid dishonor while the men threw the gates open and rode out on
a suicidal charge against Bahadur Shah's troops. When he reached Chittor,
Humayun evicted Bahadur Shah from fort and restored the kingdom to Karnavati's
son, Vikramjit Singh. Although contemporary commentators and memoirs do
not mention the Rakhi episode and some historians have expressed skepticism
about it, it is mentioned in one mid-seventeenth century Rajasthani account.
Rabindranath Tagore & Rakhi:- Rabindranath Tagore, the Indian Nobel
Laureate for literature, invoked Raksha Bandhan and Rakhi, as
concepts to inspire love, respect and a vow of mutual protection between Hindus
and Muslims during India's colonial era. In 1905, the British
empire divided Bengal, a province of British India on the basis of
religion. Rabindra Nath Tagore arranged a ceremony to celebrate Raksha Bandhan
to strengthen the bond of love and togetherness between Hindus and Muslims of
Bengal, and urge them to together protest the British empire. He used the idea
of Raksha Bandhan to spread the feeling of brotherhood. In 1911, British
colonial empire reversed the partition and unified Bengal, a unification that
was opposed by Muslims of Bengal. Ultimately, Tagore's Raksha Bandhan-based
appeals were unsuccessful. Bengal not only was split during the colonial era,
one part became modern Bangladesh and predominantly Muslim country,
the other a largely Hindu Indian state of West Bengal. Rabindranath Tagore
started Rakhi Mahotsavas as a symbol of Bengal unity, and as a larger community
festival of harmony. In parts of West Bengal, his tradition continues as
people tie Rakhis to their neighbors and close friends.
One
of Tagore's poem invoking Rakhi is:
The love in my
body and heart
For the earth's shadow and light
Has stayed over years.
With its cares and its hope it has thrown
A language of its own
Into blue skies.
It lives in my joys and glooms
In the spring night's buds and blooms
Like a Rakhi-band
On the Future's hand.
Regional variations
While
Raksha Bandhan is celebrated in various parts of South Asia, different regions
mark the day in different ways.
Kumaon region:- The people of the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand,
celebrate Raksha Bandhan with Janopunyu. Along with the sister-brother ritual,
men change their janeu (sacred thread). The region also marks the day with
Bagwal fair at Devidhura in district Champawat.
West Bengal& Odisha:- In the state of West
Bengal and Odisha, this day is also called Jhulan Purnima. Prayers
and puja of Lord Krishna and Radha are performed there. Sisters
tie Rakhito Brothers and wish immortality. Political Parties, Offices,
Friends, Schools to colleges, Street to Palace celebrate this day with a new
hope for a good relationship.
Nepal:- In
Nepal, Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on shravan purnima. It is also called
Janaeu Purnima (Janaeu is sacred thread and purnima means full moon). A sacred
thread is tied on wrist by senior family members and relatives. Nepalese people
enjoy this festival, eating its special food "Kwati", a soup of
sprout of seven different grains.
Maharashtra:- In
Maharashtra, the festival of Raksha Bandhan is celebrated as Narali
Poornima. Kolis are the fishermen community of the coastal state (Maharashtra).
These Kolis offered prayers to Lord Varuna for invoking his blessings. As part
of the Rakhi rituals, coconuts were thrown into the sea as offerings to Lord
Varuna also they apply vermillion on each other's foreheads as a symbol of
prosperity.
Multiculturalism:- In contemporary practice, Raksha Bandhan festival has developed
into a broader context and a multicultural event. Priests tie rakhis
around the wrists of congregation members. Rakhis are often shared between
close friends. Women tie rakhis around the wrists of the heads of state,
political party or social leaders. Ceremonies are also held to tie Rakhi around
the wrists of soldiers.
Muslims:- There
is no mention of Raksha Bandhan in Quran or Hadiths. However, some Muslims in
India view it a secular, multicultural festival.
