India, The land with rich culture is known to celebrate several festivals over a year. And this celebration of festivals helps us to stay close to our traditions and cultures.
Raksha Bandhan is one of the most awaited Hindu festivals in India that celebrates the unconditional bond of love, protection, and care between brother and sister. The festival is celebrated to cherish the bond and restore the love each has for one another. People can come closer and bond as brothers and sisters through this simple yet powerful ceremony.
Raksha Bandhan is a Sanskrit word. Raksha means protection and Bandhan means bond. So Raksha Bandhan is the bond of love and protection between siblings. Rakha Bandhan is also known as Rakhi Purnima, Salerno, Ujjwal Silano, Rakhi.
Raksha Bandhan Date-2020
According to Hindu culture, This Auspicious festival is celebrated on the full moon day(Purnima) of Sravana. This year Raksha Bandhan will fall on 3rd August 2020.
How Raksha Bandhan celebrated
On this day a sister ties a holy thread known as Rakhi on the wrist of her brother and prays for his good health, happiness, and success in his life, and in return, the brother promises to protect and guide his sister in each and every situation for the rest of her life.
Before the festival Women buy Rakhis and gifts from the Market. Some of them also prefer to make Rakhi at home by using thread and beads. and Men also buy gifts for their sisters.
On that day in the Morning, both brother and sister dress up nicely. Sister prepares a plate with Rakhis, Kumkum, Rice( Akshat), Diya, aromatic incense sticks, and sweets.
The first sister worships Lord Ganesh, Lord Krishna, Sai Baba, and ties Rakhi on their hand. Then the brother’s term will come. Sister applies Tilak on the forehead with Kumkum and rice grains, Tie rakhi on the wrist and worship him and at last offers sweets to him. After the rituals brother offers some gifts to his sister.
But Nowadays In most cases, Siblings are staying far away from each other due to their job or studies or after marriage. So for them, it is not easy to celebrate Raksha Bandhan together. So they are celebrating this festival online. Sister sends Rakhi through postal or E-commerce sites and brother also orders gifts for sister through E-commerce sites.
You can find some Raksha Bandhan songs here:
Raksha Bandhan In History
The festival of Rakhi purnima is associated with several mythological and historical legends that demonstrate the observance of this festival in earlier times. some of the popular names are
King Bali and Goddess Lakshmi
Indra and Indira.
Krishna and Draupadi.
Alexander and puru.
Yama and Yamuna.
There are many stories related to the origin of this festival. It is believed that once Lord Krishna got injured by a sharp weapon. At that time Draupadi tore off a section of her sari and bandaged Krishna’s figure. In return for this favor, Sri Krishna pledged to protect Draupadi when she would be in trouble. Krishna accepted it as ‘Raksha Sutra’ and when the Kauravas attempted to dishonor her by disrobing Panchali in front of her husband in a court full of courtesies. With Krishna blessings, Panchali’s sari becomes endless when Dushasana tries to disrobe her.
This is how Sri Krishna saved Panchali like a brother who protects a sister from all evils. Thus, the trend to tie Rakhi has been carried forward from History
