People celebrate many traditional festivals in India. Each community has their own distinct festival but Rakshabandhan is celebrated by all.Rakshabandhan is celebrated onShravan Poornimaand on the occasion of the festival tie the sacred thread called Rakhi on the wrist of their brothers.And in return for the rakhis the brothersvow to look after their sisters always and also present them with gifts.
In the country of India with its myriad population, people celebrate many traditional festivals which are different from one another in every respect. Different communities have their own specific festivals but the festival of Rakshabandhan is celebrated by all irrespective of caste and creed. Although it is originally a Hindu festival, Rakshabandhan has transcended the barriers of religions and ethnic differences and people from all walks of life participate in this festival with the same fervor and enthusiasm.
Rakshabandhan is celebrated onShravan Poornima, the full moon day in the lunar month Shravana of the Hindu calendar. The celebrations on this day are based on many mythological tales including that of the Lord Indra, the king of the gods and his wife Indrani. Legends have it that a battle tool place between the gods and demons once on a Shravan Poornima. The demons were the stronger of the two sides and were taking the upper hand in the battle. This worried Indra; and Indrani upon seeing the consternation upon her husband’s face prepared a talisman with her power of mantra and tied it around Indra’s right wrist. The talisman made Indra immune from any harm and he was able to defeat the demons. There is also another legend that Yamuna used to tie the sacred thread Rakhi on the wrists of her brother Yama, the god of death on every Shravan Poornima. And that is the reason Rakshabandhan is celebrated on this particular day.
Rakshabandhan is also known as Rakhi Poornima, Nariyal Poornima and Kajari Poornima in different parts of the country. On the occasion of the festival tie the sacred thread called Rakhi on the wrist of their brothers. The rakhi represents their love, respect and wishes and it also symbolizes the eternalbond of their relationship. Rakshabandhan means “the bond of love,” and in return for the rakhis, the brothersvow to look after their sisters always and also present them with gifts.The tradition of tying Rakhis is not exclusive to real brothers and sisters only. In Indian traditions when a girl tie a rakhi on the wrists of any male, he naturally assumes the role of a real brother and also become honor bound to safeguard her from all harm. Thus a woman might make any male as her brother by simply tying a Rakhi. The festival of Rakshabandhan not only strengthens the bond of love between members of the family, but when a Rakhi is tied on the wrists of friends and neighbors, it fosters kinship and promotes a harmonious society where everyone lives like brothers and sisters.The festival of Rakhi carries an intrinsic message of universal brotherhood and sisterhood.
On the day of the festival we can see people exchanging rakhi and gifts in every part of the nation. Nowadays people also shop for rakhi online and send rakhi to Delhi for their siblings who stay there.And arranging a rakhi delivery to Delhi is just a matter of minutes in this age of the internet.
