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Shivangi.

@caffeineaddict

Trailblazer

+ 6

Posted: 9 years ago

Rakshabandhan, the festival celebrating amity, brotherhood and long life, is one of the most important days in the Hindu religion. The word 'Raksha' means protection and 'bandhan' means bond. This protection isn't simply physical protection, it also signifies spiritual protection. Traditionally, girls tie rakhi on their brothers' wrists. While doing so, they seek their protection and thank them for being there. In turn, the brothers vow to protect their sisters at all costs and love them unconditionally.

The rituals of Rakshabandhan begin a week or two before the actual day. Women and girls shop for rakhis for their brothers while the brothers gear up to buy gifts for their sisters in return. Women, who live away from their brothers, courier their rakhis and sweets early so that the package reaches well in time. On the day of rakhi, women and girls dress up in the morning and tie rakhi on their brother's hands, and offer them sweets. In return, the brothers give the sisters gifts (or envelopes with money these days) which is usually followed by a lavish family lunch. Rakshabandhan is a day that celebrates unity and love of a family and encourages the entire family to come together!

The exact origin of Rakshabandhan is not known but its said that the tradition dates back 6000 years when the Aryans first created the Indus Valley Civilization. Several evidences of Rakshabandhan celebrations exist in the Indian History which shed light on the importance of this day.
Lord Krishna and Draupadi

In order to protect people, Lord Krishna killed evil King Shishupal and in doing so, he hurt his finger which started bleeding. It's said that seeing this, Draupadi (wife of the Pandavas) tore a part of her saree and tied it around Lord Krishna's wrist to stop the bleeding. Lord Krishna was so moved by this that he declared himself bounded by this sisterly act of love. He promised Draupadi that he would repay his debt whenever she needed him in the future. Years later when Pandavas lost their lands and their wife Draupadi to Kauravas, Draupadi called Him for help. As the Kauravas ripped her saree away(cheerharan), Lord Krishna divinely covered her in more and more clothing and eventually saved her dignity.
Alexander the Great and King Puru

This story dates back to 300 BC, when Alexander the Great invaded India. It is said that Alexander's wife approached the kshatriya King Puru and tied a rakhi on his hand asking him to let Alexander live in the battlefield because Alexander had taken a huge blow during the first encounter with King Puru. King Puru honored this bond and in the battlefield when he was about to kill Alexander, he saw the rakhi on his hand and let him live.
Rani Karnawati and Emperor Humayun

When Bahadur Shah of Mewar attacked Chittor, the widowed QueenRani Karnawati resorted to Mughal Empire for protection. She sent a rakhi to Emperor Humayun along with a letter explaining the significance of rakhi and asked for his help. Emperor Humayun was so touched with this gesture that he turned all his troops towards Chittor and ordered to protect the kingdom from Bahadur Shah's invasion.

-RD- | Radhikerani

Edited by caffeineaddict. - 9 years ago

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wayward

@wayward

Stunner

+ 14

Posted: 9 years ago

While the festival celebrates the bond between siblings, there are single children out there who have an entirely different perspective on the day and it's growing (or reducing) importance!

What is Rakshabandhan? After all, it's just another day of glittering lights and shimmering faces engaged in celebration around the city.

It is a day of the delicious smells traveling up the narrow alleys and wide streets alike, ready to attack your senses with their tantalizingly inviting aura. It is day when the street's adorned with pretty fingers fastening rakhi bands on handsome wrists, strengthening the bond of everlasting friendship or, to use a commoner phrase, friendzoning.

It is a day to profess your love for your dear brother or sister.
Makes me wonder what you do the rest of the year? I feel it's a complete waste of time, unless of course, you count the delighting delicacies prepared by mothers, which again are prepared in the honor of various celestial dignitaries.

Feels not that good, you know, to see the brothers-and-sisters of numerous other brothers-and-sisters bounce away to explore their haul (gifts, precisely) for the year, just in time when you've finally made up your mind to save that silent-treatment for ignoring the twenty-one texts you've sent them, for the next day.

Still, it would be great to have a sibling just to take an active part in the grand celebrations. Just joking, yeah?

Sometimes I do wonder what it would have been to have a sibling; whether it's that much fun, or just as trouble as you mentioned. Maybe, it's a real crazy ride, together, like it is said to be.

Yeah, we, the "single-children" do experience that terrible loneliness that often overwhelms our subconscious mind, which reveals itself best in the form of silently seeking help in hanging a tassel somewhere, or seeking a hand to hold while those fireworks go up one by one.

You must have got it that I seek sympathy. Congratulations! You got it wrong! Just as much we fancy familiar assistance in hanging that tassel or a personal arm to lean on, we by no means let go of Rakshabhandhan!

I mean, there's so much to do!

The new friendships to be started, the new hearts to be won!

Then, there's your long-standing crush, who in a flicker, becomes the best bhaiya ever! The quiet geeky girl who becomes that cute, chirpy sister that stalks you around till you finally empty the contents of your money bag into her outstretched palms and accept the quirky band.

Who says we don't enjoy?

Edited by Radhikerani - 9 years ago