Raksha Bandhan
All sisters make sure to get your rakhis ready as Raksha Bandhan has finally arrived on Monday, August 19 2024. According to the Hindu calendar, it is celebrated on the full moon day of Shravana or the fifth month.
Raksha Bandhan is a Hindu festival that celebrates the beautiful bond between a sister and a brother. The term 'Raksha Bandhan' literally translates to 'bond of protection' among siblings.
Raksha Bandhan History: 4 Stories from Hindu Mythology
Krishna and Draupadi
One of the most famous stories of the origin of Raksha Bandhan is the story of Krishna and Draupadi from Mahabharata.
Lord Krishna apparently cut his finger while flying a kite which started bleeding. Draupadi cut a piece of her saree and wrapped it around his finger which stopped the blood flow. Lord Krishna was so touched by this gesture that he promised to protect Draupadi forever.
Many years later when Draupadi was humiliated in the court of the Kauravas, Lord Krishna protected her by making her saree length infinite.
King Bali and Goddess Lakshmi
Another famous Hindu mythological story linked with Raksha Bandhan is the story of King Mahabali and Goddess Lakshmi.
King Bali, or Mahabali, was a demon king who was an earnest devotee or worshipper of Lord Vishnu. This is why Lord Vishnu had to take the responsibility of protecting his vast kingdom.
Thus, Lord Vishnu left his wife Goddess Lakshmi in Vikindam to look after King Bali's kingdom. However, Goddess Lakshmi was unable to stay away from her husband for so long so she changed herself into a Brahmin refugee woman at the Mahabali castle.
She also tied rakhi on King Bali's wrist on Shravan Purnima or the full moon of Shravan month. She later revealed her true identity which impressed King Bali. He let Lord Vishnu leave with Goddess Lakshmi.
Thus, since then, it has been a tradition for a sister to visit her brother and tie rakhi on his wrist on the full moon day of Shravan.
Yama and Yamuna
Yama is the God of death and his twin sister Yamuna is the Goddess of the river Yamuna in Hindu mythology.
When Yama and Yamuna didn't meet for 12 years, Yamuna became very sad. Looking at her state, Goddess Ganga advised Yama to visit his sister.
When Yamuna got to know that her beloved brother was coming, she cooked all kinds of delicious dishes, and tied a rakhi around his wrist, hence starting the auspicious and beautiful tradition of Raksha Bandhan.
Santoshi Maa
Did you know that Santoshi Maa is the daughter of Lord Ganesha?
When Lord Ganesha was celebrating Rakhi with Manasa, the Goddess of Snakes, both his sons- Shubh and Labh expressed their wish to celebrate Raksha Bandhan as well.
Thus, Lord Ganesha prayed to Lord Agni who blessed him with Santoshi Maa.
Why Rabindranath Tagore Started Raksha Bandhan Celebration
Did you know that it was actually Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore who started Raksha Bandhan in the early 20th century? He did this in an attempt to unite the Hindus and Muslims.
It all goes back to the time of the British Raj when West Bengal was increasingly becoming a threat due to its intense nationalism. Thus, the Britishers decided to divide Bengal into two parts on the basis of religion- Hindus and Muslims.
However, the decision of partition of Bengal came into existence in the month of Shravan- when Raksha Bandhan was celebrated by the entire Hindu community.
Thus, Rabindranath Tagore used this opportunity to unite the Hindus and Muslims on Rakhi.
Raksha Bandhan Celebration in India
Raksha Bandhan celebration is most prominent in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
Sisters Buy Rakhi
Markets boom with colourful rakhis before Raksha Bandhan. Women carefully choose the best rakhi to tie on their brother's wrist.
New Clothes are Worn
Both brothers and sisters wear new clothes on Raksha Bandhan. The vibrant colors of their clothes mirror the joy and warmth that fills their hearts on this auspicious day.
Raksha Bandhan Puja is Performed
Usually, Lord Ganesha and Lord Krishna are worshipped on Raksha Bandhan. All sisters prepare a puja thali consisting of Roli, rice, diya, some sweets, and rakhi of course.
While tying the rakhi on her brother's wrist, the sister needs to chant the Raksha mantra.
Brothers Give Gifts
While sisters tie rakhi on their brothers' wrists and pray for their longevity and good fortune, brothers give precious and thoughtful gifts to their sisters! In fact, this is a much-anticipated tradition.
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