Raksha Bandhan: A festival that celebrates the brother-sister bond

The word Raksha Bandhan means a “tie of protection”. It is a famous Hindu tradition which celebrates the love between a brother and sister. How many other cultures celebrate this bond?

On Rakshabandhan, a sister ties Rakhi (a protective thread as a band) to her brother and performs all the other rituals.

Her brother then promises to protect her from all the problems in her life. They both promise to share unconditional love and support for each other.

The history of this festival is found in the Mahabharata, the great book of Indian mythology. When Lord Krishna accidentally cut his finger on the Sudarshan chakra, Princess Draupadi tied a piece of cloth around his waist to prevent the loss of blood.

Lord Krishna in return promised to protect her from all evils in the world. He continued to protect and help her from Kauravas (descendants of Kuru) who tried to insult and humiliate her.

The basic concept has remained the same but has evolved with time. Now people tie Rakhi to their relatives, loved ones, or anyone who has protected or taken care of them.

It has become a festival to express love and gratitude. So you can also tie a Rakhi to your sister or your best friend. The main motive is to love and protect each other.

The process of celebrating Raksha Bandhan is as follows:

1. Aukshan: Sister puts a red tilak/tika on her brother’s forehead. She does Aukshan (waves a lit lamp) and then touches her brother’s feet for blessings.

2. Rakhi: Sister ties rakhi and feeds a sweet to her brother.

3. Gifts: Brother gives money or gifts as a token of appreciation.

Final Note: Raksha Bandhan helps siblings realize the importance of family in life. This festival isn’t limited to blood relatives, or religion and can be celebrated by anyone. Raksha Bandhan mirrors the Hindu phrase, “The cosmos is a family”.