Raksha Bandhan is a traditional Hindu festival signifying the divine bond between a brother and sister and celebrating their sacred relationship through cultural rituals. Originating from the Indian subcontinent, this tradition has spread worldwide among Hindus. Also, it enlightens people belonging to different religions and cultures as the meaning behind this festival is deep. It is informally referred to as the festival of Rakhi , highlighting the talisman or amulet that sisters use to tie on their brother’s wrists, followed by religious prayers, as we shall explore.
STORY BEHIND THIS FESTIVAL
Raksha Bandhan circles around the well-known Hindu epic called Mahabharata, revolving around the lives of Lord Krishna and his she-friend Draupadi, who also happened to be the standard consort of the five Pandava brothers. It is believed that Lord Krishna accidentally cut his finger once in Mahabharata, which started bleeding profusely. Draupadi immediately tore a fragment of her saree (traditional Hindu wear for women) to wrap around Lord Krishna’s finger to stop the bleeding. Lord Krishna felt touched by Draupadi’s noble gesture and regarded the cloth as a sacred thread that saved him from a fatal blood loss. Bestowing gratitude, Lord Krishna promised Draupadi he would always protect her like a shield from all the evilness and wicked eyes lingering in society. This promise became evident when the rivals of the Pandava brothers, the Kauravas, tried to assault Draupadi by dragging her mercilessly to the court and then attempting to disrobe her publicly. Lord Krishna performed a miracle where Draupadi’s robe kept growing in length, and the more the Kauravas tried to remove it, the more it kept increasing until the Kauravas got frustrated and accepted defeat. Draupadi’s dignity got saved by Lord Krishna’s deep affection for her.
Raksha Bandhan centers around the thread Draupadi tied to Lord Krishna, which officially became known as Rakhi and transformed into a faith among Hindus where the brothers vow to protect their sisters from all evil beings. On the other hand, the sister affectionately ties the string around her brother’s wrist. Nowadays, this practice is not only limited to the divine bond between a brother and a sister, as it is common today in India to see daughters tying Rakhi to their fathers or mothers doing the same to their sons.
COMMON ILLUSION
Raksha Bandhan is associated with a common illusion in Indian society that it is inappropriate for a husband to perform the festival’s rites with his wife or two lovers engaged in romantic relationships to indulge in this practice. However, many critics have debated this notion of illusion in most families by affirming that Rakhi signifies the bond of protection and could be celebrated between two lovers as a promise to protect each other. Nevertheless, this issue remains a debate, and many people prohibit lovers from performing the rites of Rakhi believing that it is the sole festival of the bond between a brother and sister.
THE RITUAL
During Raksha Bandhan , families gather together wearing traditional outfits. The sister brings a holy plate adorned with religious decorations like incense sticks and sweets kept at the side as Prasad (sacred offerings to the Almighty) with the spiritual thread of Rakhi lying in the middle. She begins the rites by applying a holy mark on their brother’s forehead called Tika or Tilaka. Then she says a prayer in her mind and offers the traditional sweet kept on her plate to her brother while tying Rakhi to him. Brothers then express their appreciation by blessing their sisters with gifts and cash envelopes to show how lucky they feel in their sisters’ presence. After the rituals, Indian families organize lunch feasts and talk and laugh with each other over mouth-watering Indian dishes.
CONCLUSION
Raksha Bandhan is a much-awaited festival among all families. It trickles excitement into the atmosphere due to the liveliness buzzing in the markets. This year it will be observed in India on 30th August 2023. So if you feel inspired by learning about the background of this festival, then do not forget to wish your beloved ones Raksha Bandhan , promising them to be their savior throughout life.
