(First published in Small World Ezine some time in August of 2002)
This Friday, August 23th, is the Raksha Bandhan festival celebrated mainly in India. It is a great time of the year siblings of opposite sex exchange gifts. Sounds like a nice time of a year :-)
Raksha Bandhan has always been practiced in South India, Bengal, Orissa, Gujarat and Rajastan. However, it is known to be popular throughout India.
The festival takes place in a late August. On the day (this year it falls on August 23rd), sisters will tie a a Rakhi -- which may be a colorful thread, a simple bracelet, or a decorative string -- around the wrist of their brothers. This is a symbol that the girls are willing to take the brothers as her protectors (Raksha is a Sanskrit term for protection). In turn, brothers recognize the special bonds
between them, by giving some small gift items to their sisters, such as some money, clothes, sweets, jewelry, or just blessings.
Though in principle Raksha Bandhan is an observance between biological siblings of the opposite sex, the practice often extends more generally to people of the opposite sex who are not biologically related, or who are not related as siblings. Girls may give Rakhi to older men or male cousins who do not have sisters, or to men whose images are like protectors of people such as soldiers or politicians (oh... well...).
The beauty of Raksha Bandhan is that its celebrations are not obstructed by geographica boundaries. When brothers are far away, sisters still observe the occasion by sending their token of love by mail. And the brothers too reciprocate by sending a gift!
Raksha Bandhan ( Our Festivals)
The origin of Raksha Bandhan is not really known but there is a popular legend which goes like this. There was a fierce battle between Gods and evils in which the evils seemed to be winning. Goddess Indrani (wife of God Indra) consulted some old scriptures and prepared a talisman which she tied to her husband's wrist. God Indra went to the battle field again and, this time, beat the enemies. It was Shravan Poornima day.
Ever since, on Sravan Poornima day, the tradition of tying the thread began and it was believed that the persons would be blessed with health, wealth, happiness and victories.
Over time however, the significance of Rakhi moved on to brother-sister instead. Sisters tied Rakhi to their brothers asking for protection. While the sisters also prayed for their brothers' welfare, the latter vowed to take care of them even if it called for some sacrifice on their part.
The Rakhi thread which was originally a simple thread, gradually began to be embellished with beads, semi-precious stones, colored or golden/silver threads, satin ribbons, floral motifs etc. Rakhis are available in different sizes, colors and shapes from the typical round ones to heart shaped, symbolising the bond of love.
Book: Why I Am Not a Hindu: A Sudra Critique of Hindutva Philosophy, Culture and Political
