Raksha Bandhan, Bondage among Siblings

Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi:

Raksha Bandhan is a sacred festival in India. It is the festival of bringing the bondage between brothers and sisters. It is a simple ceremony; on the day of the Raksha Bandhan festival, a woman or a girl ties a rakhi to her brother or brothers. The festival falls in late August and signifies the word ‘Raksha’ means protection; Raksha Bandhan is an enduring bond. According to this meaning, a woman ties a rakhi around her brother’s wrist and has a loving attachment to him. He also recognizes the special bonds between them by extending his wrist forward, extending the hand of his protection over her. After tying the sacred thread to her brother, she gives aarti and places a sweet in her mouth, then the brother bestows a small gift upon his sister, generally in the form of a small sum of money, such as Rupees 51,101,251 or 501.

Legend Behind the Raksha Bandhan Festival:

Raksha Bandhan festival is also called Rakhi Purnima or just Rakhi. There are many stories behind the celebration of the Raksha Band. But the most basic level is about Rani Karnavati of Chittor, the widowed queen of Chittor; the kingdom was attacked by Gujarat’s Sultan, Bahadur Shah. Then Rani Karnavati realized her inability to protect her kingdom and people, so she sent a Rakhi to the Mughal Emperor, Humayun. When Humayun received Rakhi, he was overwhelmed and emotional at the affectionate bondage of Karnavati. Immediately Humayun set out to protect Chittor from the invasion along with his army. But Humayun not reached Chittor in time. Before his arrival, Sultan Bahadur Shah reached the queen’s fortress. All the women in the fort, including Rani karnawati, had performed Jauhar (mass suicide) by then. Humayun fought with Bahadur Shah on going to the defence and elevated him from the land. The empire was handed over to Rani Karnawati’s son, Vikramjeet Singh. Since then, the Rakhi tying ceremony came into force as Raksha Bandhan in a wide range.

Rakhi Celebrations:

Raksha Bandhan is an important Hindu festival; in some regions, Hindu women send the Raksha Bandhan threads to Muslim religious men and treat them like brothers. The festival also brings communal harmony among Hindus and Muslims. On the day, Hindu sisters wear beautiful dresses to celebrate the occasion with their brothers. Before the Hindu deities, the sisters pray the God for a prosperous future and a long life for their brothers. The celebration of the festival causes to strengthen the relationship between siblings. The festival also keeps the deep-rooted culture of the country alive.

Evidence of Raksha Bandhan celebrations in History:

At the time Alexander invaded India in 321 B.C. Indian king Puru’s army frightened Alexander and his army in the battle. Then Alexander the Macedonia king lost his hope of conquest India. In the meantime, Alexander’s wife heard of the Rakhi festival and its significance, approached King Puru and tied Rakha Bandhan to his wrist. Then King Puru accepted her as his sister; when the opportunity came during the war to defeat Alexander, but as a brother to Alexander’s wife, he refrained from Alexander.