Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi is a traditional festival that is celebrated by Indians worldwide.
It is celebrated in August on Shravan Purnima day, every year. Families come together on this special day as brothers and sisters reaffirm their relationship. The sister ties a thread or decorated band around her brother's wrist. This is accompanied by rituals, an exchange of gifts and the reaffirmation of a pledge by brothers, to protect their sisters at all times.The fond relationship between brothers and sisters is reaffirmed by the shared emotion and promises made by siblings, on the Indian festival of Rakhi Bandhan or Rakhi. Every year in August, the auspicious day of Shravan Purnima, or full moon day in the month of Shravan according to the Hindu calendar, is celebrated as the festival of Raksha Bandhan. Apart from prayers and distributing sweets, which occur in all Hindu festivals, there is a special ritual that takes place during Rakhi. Sisters tie a red thread or nowadays more ornately decorated bracelets, around the wrists of their brothers. This thread symbolizes the affectionate sibling relationship between them. While tying the rakhi sisters chant the following Sanskrit lines.
Yena baddho Balee raajaa daanavendro mahaabalah |
Tena twaam anubadhnaami rakshe maa chala maa chala ||
The meaning of these lines is as follows, "I am tying a Raksha to you; similar to the one tied to Bali, the powerful and generous king. Oh Raksha, be firm, do not go away, do not go away." The auspicious words said by the sister are in memory of the demon King Bali, who was said to gain power when he wore a raksha. This is supposed to protect the wearer from negative influences. The brother in turn promises to look after his sister and protect her from any harm that may come to her. Thus the bond between brother and sister is reaffirmed. Her rakhi strengthens him and he in turn promises to use his strength to protect her.
Raksha Bandhan is celebrated in various ways in different parts of India. While observed in a similar manner across most of North India, other regions of India celebrate this festival in their own unique ways. In Maharashtra and its capital city Mumbai, Raksha Bandhan Day is celebrated as Narial Purnima or Coconut Full Moon day. Coconuts are offered to the Varuna the Sea God, as a form of worship.
In South India this auspicious day is celebrated as Avani Avittam. Brahmins wear a new sacred thread, recite the Vedas and make offering to their teachers and holy men.
Raksha Bandhan celebrates the purest and noblest emotions in the human psyche-the supportive and familial bond of love between brothers and sisters. The Rakhi given by the sister to the brother on this day symbolizes their sibling attachment. However the sister-brother relationship symbolized by the Rakhi represents more than the immediate ties of brothers and sisters. It also represents the shared connections of a harmonious and intertwined social order where everyone in society considers themselves brothers and sisters, united by shared bonds of love.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Happy Raksha Bandhan
Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi is a traditional festival that is celebrated by Indians worldwide.
It is celebrated in August on Shravan Purnima day, every year. Families come together on this special day as brothers and sisters reaffirm their relationship. The sister ties a thread or decorated band around her brother's wrist. This is accompanied by rituals, an exchange of gifts and the reaffirmation of a pledge by brothers, to protect their sisters at all times.The fond relationship between brothers and sisters is reaffirmed by the shared emotion and promises made by siblings, on the Indian festival of Rakhi Bandhan or Rakhi. Every year in August, the auspicious day of Shravan Purnima, or full moon day in the month of Shravan according to the Hindu calendar, is celebrated as the festival of Raksha Bandhan. Apart from prayers and distributing sweets, which occur in all Hindu festivals, there is a special ritual that takes place during Rakhi. Sisters tie a red thread or nowadays more ornately decorated bracelets, around the wrists of their brothers. This thread symbolizes the affectionate sibling relationship between them. While tying the rakhi sisters chant the following Sanskrit lines.
Yena baddho Balee raajaa daanavendro mahaabalah |
Tena twaam anubadhnaami rakshe maa chala maa chala ||
The meaning of these lines is as follows, "I am tying a Raksha to you; similar to the one tied to Bali, the powerful and generous king. Oh Raksha, be firm, do not go away, do not go away." The auspicious words said by the sister are in memory of the demon King Bali, who was said to gain power when he wore a raksha. This is supposed to protect the wearer from negative influences. The brother in turn promises to look after his sister and protect her from any harm that may come to her. Thus the bond between brother and sister is reaffirmed. Her rakhi strengthens him and he in turn promises to use his strength to protect her.
Raksha Bandhan is celebrated in various ways in different parts of India. While observed in a similar manner across most of North India, other regions of India celebrate this festival in their own unique ways. In Maharashtra and its capital city Mumbai, Raksha Bandhan Day is celebrated as Narial Purnima or Coconut Full Moon day. Coconuts are offered to the Varuna the Sea God, as a form of worship.
In South India this auspicious day is celebrated as Avani Avittam. Brahmins wear a new sacred thread, recite the Vedas and make offering to their teachers and holy men.
Raksha Bandhan celebrates the purest and noblest emotions in the human psyche-the supportive and familial bond of love between brothers and sisters. The Rakhi given by the sister to the brother on this day symbolizes their sibling attachment. However the sister-brother relationship symbolized by the Rakhi represents more than the immediate ties of brothers and sisters. It also represents the shared connections of a harmonious and intertwined social order where everyone in society considers themselves brothers and sisters, united by shared bonds of love.
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