Raksha Bandhan - Festival for Brother and Sister

Raksha Bandhan:

Raksha Bandhan is a festival which is the celebration for brother and sister. Raksha is protection and bandhan is relation so it tells us the protection of relation. This falls on the pournami for Shravana Masam. This festival shows the affection and praying for well being for happiness between the brother and sister. Sister ties a thread (Rakhi) to the brother wrist and pray to god to protect their brothers from the evil and brother’s promise to protect them from all the troubles.

Cultural Beliefs:

• In mahabhartha sri Krishna had a small cut on his finger when he took the sudarshana chakra to kill Shishupala. Draupadi who saw this immediately tore her dress and tied knot to sri Krishna to stop the bleeding from the cut. By this act Sri Krishna promised her to protect her from all troubles. Sri Krishna protected her by providing saree in the episode of Hastinapura.
• Indra wife Shachi tied a thread to Indra, to enhance the mind power to defeat the demons.
• Goddess Lakshmi tied knot to king Bali,a great devotee of Lord Vishnu.

 In the ancient times while tying rakhi the following mantra was recited:

“Yena baddho Balee raajaa daanavendro mahaabalah
tena twaam anubadhnaami rakshe maa chala maa chala”

Interesting Facts:

• There are also examples for the rakhi festival where rakhi can be tied by wife, daughter and mother.
• In the ancient times rishis tied rakhi to people who come for blessings.
• Sages tied rakhi to themselves to safeguard from the evil.

Scientific Reasons: 

• The festival is popularized by Rabindranath to promote the unity and commitment of society to protect each other.
• The festival is important because it unites the family together in the bond of love.