Raksha Bandhan is a unique festival of India celebrating a special bond between brothers and sisters. On this occasion a special thread would be tied on to brother’s wrist by the sister. People of India celebrate this festival on the full moon day in the month of Shravana (according to Hindu lunar calendar). The date usually falls in the month of August. This festival is very popular in the northern part of India. In the southern part people celebrate the full moon day of Shravan by wearing a new ‘sacred thread’ and it is called ‘yajur-upakarma’.
It is difficult to trace the origin of this festival. Hindu scriptures do not have any specific instructions as such to do such a ritual on this day. However there are instances in Puranas and epics when a sister ties something similar to ‘Rakhi’ and the brother promises to protect her. One such instance is the episode of Krishna and Draupadi. Draupadi seemed to have tied a piece of her saree when Krishna got wounded in some occasion and Krishna seemed to have promised her to help her in danger. So, it is said that there was a sort of brother-sister relationship between the both. Many stories like the one mentioned are quoted while tracing the origin of this festival. However Rani Karnavati’s instance has gained (of Chittur) much popularity. The Mughal ruler Humayun seemed to have evacuated Bahadur Shah’s army from Chittur as a token of acknowledgement to the gesture shown by the queen. The queen (Rani Karnavati) seemed to have sent a Rakhi to Humayun. The tradition of tying Rakhi has been an important part of Indian festivities strengthening the bond of harmony among its people.
Rakhi could be tied to any individual other than our own siblings. On that day sister ties Rakhi (Rakhi is a special thread prepared for this occasion. We can choose to decorate the thread) to her brother and the brother in return presents her something as a token of acknowledgement. That is just a token. The real intention is to strengthen the bond of love and harmony.
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