Raksha Bandhan is a festival of siblings, it is mainly practiced among Hindus, but it is celebrated by people of all religions of India with equal enthusiasm and sentiment. The atmosphere of this day is worth seeing all over India. This is a special day made for brothers and sisters. On this day sisters tie a Rakhi on her brother’s wrist and wishes her long life for brothers. The brother pledges his sister to protect her.
This festival celebrated on the full moon day of Hindu Shravan month (July-August) is a symbol of brother’s love for his sister. On Raksha Bandhan, the sisters tie a Rakhi to the brothers’ right wrist, Tilak them and vow to protect them from them. However, the generality of Rakshabandhan is much more than this. Tying Rakhi is not just an activity between brothers and sisters. Rakhi is also being tied to protect the country, protect the environment, protect interests, etc.
IMPORTANCE OF RAKSHA BANDHAN IN INDIA
- Hinduism- The festival is mainly celebrated by the Hindus in the northern and western parts of India along with countries like Nepal, Pakistan, and Mauritius.
- Jainism- The occasion is also revered by the Jain community where Jain priests give ceremonial threads to the devotees.
- Sikhism- This festival devoted to the brother-sister love is observed by the Sikhs as “Rakhardi” or Rakhari.
HISTORY OF RAKHI (RAKSHABANDHAN)
In 1535, when the queen of Mewar Karnavati was attacked by Bahadur Shah, she requested for help by sending a Rakhi to the Mughal emperor Humayun to protect her kingdom. Because Rani Karnavati was herself a brave warrior, she herself jumped into the battlefield to face Bahadur Shah, but Humayun’s support could not bring her success.
Historical
When the Rajputs went to battle, women used to tie kumkum tilak on their forehead and also tied silk thread in their hands. Another famous story is associated with Rakhi. The queen was unable to fight, so she sent a rakhi to Mughal emperor Humayun and asked for This thread is considered fully capable of giving wealth, power, joy, and victory.protection. Humayun, despite being a Muslim, took care of Rakhi and reached Mewar and fought against Bahadur Shah on behalf of Mewar and protected Karmavati and her kingdom. In another context, Sikandar’s wife tied her husband’s Hindu enemy ancestor to Rakhi and made her a proud brother and vowed not to kill Alexander during the war. Purvas gave Rakhi in hand during the war and gave life to Sikandar, honoring the promise given to his sister.
In Mahabharata
It is also mentioned in Mahabharata that when Jyestha Pandava Yudhishthira asked Lord Krishna how I can overcome all the troubles, Lord Krishna advised celebrating the Rakhi festival to protect him and his army. At this time, there are many references of tying rakhi to Krishna by Draupadi and Abhimanyu by Kunti.
In the Mahabharata, another episode of Krishna and Draupadi related to Raksha Bandhan is also found. When Krishna killed Shishupala with the Sudarshan Chakra, his index finger got hurt. Draupadi tore her sari at that time and tied the bandage on her finger. It was the full moon day of Shravan month. Krishna later revenges this benevolence by paying for his sari at the time of incision. It is said that the spirit of mutual protection and cooperation started from here at the festival of Rakshabandhan.
Legendary
No one knows when the festival of Rakhi started. Lord Indra panicked and went to Jupiter. Indrani, Indra’s wife, was listening to everyone sitting there. She sanctified the silk thread with the power of mantras and tied it on her husband’s hand. Incidentally, it was the day of Shravan Purnima. People believe that Indra was victorious in this battle only by the mantra power of this thread. From the same day on the day of Shravan Purnima, the practice of tying this thread is going on.
The story of Krishna and Draupadi is famous in history, in which Shri Krishna’s finger was injured during the war, Draupadi tied a piece of her saree to Shri Krishna’s injured finger, and in return for this favor, Shri Krishna gave Draupadi Had pledged to assist Draupadi in any crisis. The story goes like this: When Danavendra King Bali tried to take 100 yagyas and take away the kingdom of heaven, and then Indra and other gods prayed to Lord Vishnu. Then Lord Vamana took incarnation as a Brahmin and came to seek alms from King Bali. God measured the whole sky in three steps and sent the king Bali to the abyss, measuring the earth.
Thus, this festival is also famous as Balev due to Lord Vishnu shattering the pride of the sacrificial king. It is said that once Bali went into the abyss, Bali sacrificed his devotion to God in front of him day and night. Narada Ji told Laxmi Ji that he was upset about not returning home to God. Following that remedy, Lakshmi went to King Bali and tied her Rakshabandhan and made her brother and brought her husband Lord Bali with her. That day was the full moon date of Shravan month. In a passage in the Vishnu Purana it is said that on the full moon day of Shravan, Lord Vishnu took the incarnation as Hayagreeva and reclaimed the Vedas for Brahma. Hayagreeva is considered a symbol of learning and wisdom.
Literary
There are many literary texts in which a detailed description of the festival of Rakshabandhan is available. The most important of these is the historical drama Raksha Bandhan of Harikrishna Premi, which has been published in the 18th edition in 1991. Writing about the Shinde Empire in Marathi, Ramrao Subhanrao Barge also composed a play titled Rakhi aka Rakshabandhan. Rakshabandhan remained a popular subject of Hindi films in the fifties and sixties. Many films were made not only by the name ‘Rakhi’ but also by the name of ‘Raksha Bandhan’.
CONCLUSION
There are many traditions in our Hindu society, which have been going on for centuries. The society still considers them. These traditions are also called our culture. But we have removed many traditions, such as child marriage, male sacrifice, sati practice, etc., from our lives; But the traditions that are beneficial, we are still accepting them today.
Therefore, the festival of Raksha Bandhan is such a tradition, which we should see among ourselves. It combines so that even today everyone celebrates with pomp and gaiety.
FAQs Raksha Bandhan
That day, sister tie rakhi on the wrists of our brother to protect any evil influences, and pray long life happiness. Rakshabandhan is a sibling’s love festival. This festival celebrated on the fully moon day Hindi month (July/August) of Sravana.
When the queen of Mewar Karnavati was attacked by Bahadur Shah, she requested for help by sending a Rakhi to the Mughal emperor Humayun to protect her kingdom. Because Rani Karnavati was herself a brave warrior, she herself jumped into the battlefield to face Bahadur Shah, but Humayun’s support could not bring her success.
We are celebrated Raksha Bandhan according to Hindu lunar calendar on the fully moon of Sravana month. Rakshi Bandhan Hindu festival that celebrates brotherhood and love. The word Raksha means safety, while Bandhan is the verb to tie old-style Priests tie rakhis around the wrists of congregation members.
