Raksha Bandhan | The bond between brothers and sister

Raksha Bandhan, The Brother's & Sister Festival

Send flower rakhi to bangalore

Happy Raksha Bandhan

While all festivals across various cultures and religions celebrate human relationships, no other festival highlights the bond between a brother and a sister like Raksha Bandhan does. Raksha Bandhan is also known as Rakhi. A Rakhi is a sacred thread that sisters tie in the hands of their brother to strengthen the bond between the bro and sis love.

There is also a promise that is strengthened on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. A promise that a brother will protect his sisters all the time. Rakhi delivery in bangalore
This is no ordinary promise that is made on the day of Raksha Bandhan. While there is one more Hindu festival that celebrates the bond between brothers and sister. That is  Bhai Dooj which is a great festival of the bonding between brother and sister.

Rakskha Bandahan Date and When is it Celebrated

Although, the festival of Raksha Bandhan occurs on the full moon day of the Shravana month as per Hindu calendar, the dates may vary every year. In 2018 Raksha Bandhan will be celebrated on the date of 26th August – Sunday for the year 2018.

Download Raksha Bandhan Songs 

                                        History of Raksha Bandhan

Raksha Bandahan During Mahabharata

In the great Hindu epic of Mahabharata, there is an event mentioning Raksha Bandhan. During the Rajsuya Ygya. After the death of  Shishupal’s , Krishna was left with a bleeding finger and Draupadi tears a piece from her sari and ties it to Krishna’s wrist to staunch the flow of blood.  Pleased by the kind gesture, Krishna vowed to repay the debt to her. Mahabharata also has a mention of Kunti tying a rakhi to her grandson Abhimanyu. Though Mahabharata is not considered a recorded history but the mention itself points to the celebration being very old. Rakhi delivery in banaglore

Rani Karmavati of Chittor

The famous Rakhi story from history is about the Rani Karmavati of Chittor. Facing the threat of invasion from the Sultan of Gujarat, Bahadur Shah, she sent a rakhi to Humayun the Mughal Emperor asking him to save her family and her kingdom.
A much moved Humayun, abandoned his on going military campaign in Bengal and rushed to her help, but was too late to save her. She and the women of the kingdom had preferred to immolate themselves rather than fall into the hands of the enemy.

Raksha Bandhan and Hindu Mythologies

The origin of Raksha Bandhan can be traced back to the mythological times, which recounts many stories on how this custom came into being. The most famous legend relates to a war between the Gods and the Demons. The Gods lead by Lord Indra were on the verge of defeat.At this point Lord Indra approached his guru Brihaspati and sought his help. Guru Brihaspati advised him to tie a sacred thread powered by mantras on his wrist on Shravan Purnima. On that day, Indra’s wife Sachi tied the thread on his wrist and Gods won the battle. Since then it become a common custom in India for women to tie a thread on the wrists of soldiers going for war, with the hope that it will protect them and lead them to victory. send online rakhi gift to banaglore

Goddess Lakshmi and King Bali

In another story, Lord Vishnu pleased with the extreme devotion of his disciple, the demon King Bali, promised to guard his kingdom, abandoning his own abode in Vaikunth. Meanwhile, Goddess Lakshmi, wanted her lord to be back with her in his abode. She went to Bali disguised as a Brahmin and sought refuge with telling him that her husband had gone away on some long errand. send online rakhi gift to banaglore. Then, on Shravan Purnima she tied a thread on King Bali’s wrist wishing for his wellbeing. In return he granted her one boon and the goddess asked him to return her husband. The Goddess then revealed herself to the confused king and told him the real story. Overcome, the King asked Lord Vishnu to return with his wife to his abode. But having pledged his entire life to protecting Bali, the lord was unable to do so. To resolve his dilemma, it was decided that Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma will guard Bali for four months each.

How is Raksha Bandhan Celebrated in Present Time

Mentioned to be started by the Gods, the tradition is carried on by many brothers and sisters in India. Along with the promise of love and protection the festival has taken on rich and expensive colour, with designer rakhis being the norm. Jewellery and other costly items have replaced the more humble gifts that the brothers used give in the past.

Brother, Sister bond in Rakshabandhan

Raksha Bandhan celebrations may have begun in the Vedic era, but the tradition continues with the same vigor in  present-day India. From a simple sacred thread called kalawa, to modern-day e-rakhis sent to brothers abroad, Raksha Bandhan has drastically evolved, but continues to nourish the brother sister bond

As times are changing, sisters are not only seen tying rakhis to their siblings, but donning some themselves too.

While we never know who tied the first rakhi to whom,  but the bond between sisters and brothers are undoubtedly strengthened to an extent that we must cherish the festival and its beauty.