Everything you need to know About the Festival of Rakhsha bandhan

 Raksha Bandhan is one of the most historic festivals which are celebrated in India for so many years. This day is dedicated to all brothers and sisters and their purest bond. The uniqueness of the relationship makes this bond even more special and beautiful. Everywhere in the world people celebrate Raksha Bandhan. On Raksha Bandhan, all families come together and celebrate this occasion. 

This festival is celebrated every year, in the month of Shravana. When the full moon day or Purnima day comes in this month then we celebrate Raksha Bandhan. Sometimes dates may vary each year as per the position of the Moon.

This year Raksha Bandhan will be celebrated on Saturday, August 21, 2020. On this day, all sisters will apply tilak on the brother's forehead and tie a decorated thread which we call 'Rakhi' on their wrist of the brother and pray to god for the long life of the brother. Few sisters won't eat and drink anything until they tie the rakhi. Rakhi is the symbol of love and affection. And in return brother offers gifts to his sister and promises to protect her all her life. 

 

Meaning of Raksha Bandhan

 

Raksha Bandhan is made up of two words. The first word is Raksha and the second is Bandhan. As per the Hindu Sanskrit, the meaning of the occasion is to tie the knot of protection. If we look for the Hindi meaning of these words then Raksha means protection and the Bandhan means to tie. We also do exactly the same there meaning sisters tie the rakhi on the brother's wrist and brother give rakhi gifts to sister. 

So this festival is totally symbolized the eternal love of the brother-sister. This festival can not only be celebrated in blood relations but this can be celebrated between other relations also. The purity of this festival is relationship is truly magical.

 

Story Behind Raksha Bandhan

 

There are many stories related to this festival. When Lord Krishna got injured by a sharp weapon and the Draupadi, the wife of Pandavas, she tore off his section of her sari and bandaged or applied it on the Lord Krishna finger. And in return, Lord Krishna promises to Draupadi that he will protect Panchali when she will be in trouble. Krishna protects Panchali when the Kauravas attempted to dishonor her by destroying clothes of Panchali in front of her husband in a courtroom of courtiers. At that time Krishna protects her by giving a blessing in the form of a sari. At that moment Panchali sari will become endless when Dushasana tried disrobing her. This is how Shri Krishna saved Panchali just like a brother protects a sister from all evils. 

Different Names and Ways to Celebrate Raksha Bandhan in India

• Rakhi

This festival is mainly celebrated by the Hindus in the northern and western parts of India. On this sister buy rakhi for brother and tie on his wrist and the brother take the oath to protect her sister from the evils. This festival is also celebrated in different countries like Nepal, Pakistan, and Mauritius.

• Balda Rakhi

The occasion is also celebrated by the Jain community. On this day people visit their holy place and priests of the Jain community give ceremonial threads to the devotees. Few people of Jain's community tie rakhi to the legs of the wooden bench on which Jain monks usually sit.

• Rakhari

This festival is also popular in the Sikh community. On This day in the morning, sisters go to gurudwara and pray from their god for his brother's long life and after that sister ties Rakhari on the brother's wrist. In the Sikh community, people call rakhi Rakhari.  

• JhulanPoornima, West Bengal

On this day people start doing various rituals will are related to this festival accordingly and they made one swing put the antics of Lord Krishna and Radha on that swing and the swing is decorated with flowers and various things. People start singing various bhajans of Krishna and Radha. This celebration will begin from the Ekadashi, which comes on the full moon day when the Raksha Bandhan is celebrated in various parts. 

• Pavitropana, Gujarat

In Gujarat, peoples call this day by the name of Pavitropana when sisters tie a rakhi on their brother’s wrist. On this auspicious day, most people visit the temple to offer water to Lord Shiva and seek his blessings. It is believed that worshipping Lord Shiva on this day will help them get rid of their sins and few sisters offer rudraksha rakhi to lord shiva.

 

• LumbaRakhi, Rajasthan

In North people celebrate rakhi by tying rakhi to their brothers and praying for their safety; brothers pledge to protect their sisters from evils. But in Rajasthan where the Marwari community lives, they celebrate rakhi by tying rakhi to their brother and his wife as well, which is also known as Lumba Rakhi for bhabhi. The people from this community believe that the wife is the better half and in India which also calls wife as ardhangini, so they believe no ritual of Raksha Bandhan will be completed without the brother's wife.

• Jandhyam Purnima, Uttarakhand

This day is celebrated by the people of Kumaon, they celebrate Raksha Bandhan and Janopunyu on this day, which is also known as Shravani Purnima. This also falls on a full moon in the month of Shravan. On this day, people change their Janeu which is usually worn by Brahmins and their community.

 

• Narali Purnima, Maharashtra

As we know Maharashtra is a coastal state. Their people celebrate Narali Purnima along with Raksha Bandhan. This day also falls on the full moon day of Shravan. On this day people offer coconut to the sea, to show their respect to Lord Varun. This ritual is mostly done by the Koli community in the state, and it also marks the beginning of the fishing season for fisher folks.