Harshini Brahmavar
Daijiworld Media Network
Mangalore, Aug 10: This year, the festival of ‘Raksha Bandhan’ falls on Sunday August 10. It is a special occasion in Indian culture that celebrates the bond between a brother and sister through a holy thread tied around the wrist of the brother.
The thread, known as ‘Rakhi’, literally means ‘a bond of protection’. It signifies that the brother must be commited to his sister’s life and protect her from all evil.
The ritual is observed on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Shravan. Sisters tie the sacred ‘Rakhi’ string on their brothers’ right wrist and pray for their long life. In return, the brothers offer her some gift. Nowadays, people from different faiths celebrate the festival too. Rakhis are often made of silk with gold and silver threads, beautifully crafted embroidered sequins, and studded with semi-precious stones.
Social Bonding
Often, community ‘Rakhi Utsavs’ are also held. All members of the community commit to protect each other and the society in such congregational Rakhi Utsavs popularized by Nobel laureate and Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore.
Celebration in Different Places
In Northern India, ‘Rakhi Purnima’ is also called ‘Kajri Purnima’ or ‘Kajri Navami’, when wheat or barley is sown, and Goddess Bhagwati is worshipped. In Western states, the festival is called ‘Nariyal Purnima’ or the ‘Coconut Full Moon’. In Southern India, ‘Shravan Purnima’ is an important religious occasion, especially for Brahmins. Raksha Bandhan is known by various name—‘Vish Tarak’ - the destroyer of venom, ‘Punya Pradayak’ - the bestower of boons, and ‘Pap Nashak’ - the destroyer of sins.
History
If we flip back the pages of Indian history, it can be seen that the Rajput and Maratha queens have sent Rakhis even to Mughal kings who, despite their differences, have assuaged their Rakhi-sisters by offering help and protection at critical moments and honored the fraternal bond. Even matrimonial alliances have been established between kingdoms through the exchange of Rakhis.
According to one mythological allusion, Rakhi was intended to be the worship of the sea-god Varuna. Hence, offerings of coconut to Varuna, ceremonial bathing, and fairs at waterfronts accompany this festival.