Raksha Bandhan is a popular Hindu festival celebrated in India and other parts of the world with significant Hindu populations. It is also known as Rakhi Purnima or Rakhi. The festival is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Shravan according to the Hindu lunar calendar. This year, Raksha Bandhan will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 30, 2023.
Story Behind Raksha Bandhan
There are many stories behind Raksha Bandhan, but one of the most popular is the story of Draupadi and Lord Krishna.
In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Draupadi was the wife of the Pandava princes. One day, the Pandavas were playing dice with their cousins, the Kauravas. The Kauravas cheated and won the game, and as a result, they took Draupadi as their slave.
The Kauravas were about to disrobe Draupadi in public when Lord Krishna appeared. He stopped the Kauravas and told them that Draupadi was his sister. He then tied a rakhi (a sacred thread) on Draupadi’s wrist, which symbolically made her his sister.
The Kauravas were then bound by the sacred thread and could not harm Draupadi. Lord Krishna also promised to protect Draupadi for the rest of her life.
This story is a reminder of the bond of love and protection between sisters and brothers. On Raksha Bandhan, sisters tie rakhis on their brothers’ wrists to ask for their protection and blessings. Brothers, in turn, promise to always protect their sisters.
Here are some other stories behind Raksha Bandhan Celebration:
- In the Bhagavata Purana, Goddess Lakshmi tied a rakhi on King Bali’s wrist to make him her brother. This act of love and affection so impressed King Bali that he granted Goddess Lakshmi a wish. She asked him to return to her husband, Lord Vishnu.
- In the Vishnu Purana, Sachi, the wife of Indra, tied a rakhi on Indra’s wrist to protect him in battle against the powerful demon King Bali.
- In the Jain text, Kalpasutra, Queen Trishala tied a rakhi on her son, Mahavira, to protect him from harm. Mahavira went on to become the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism.
- Raksha Bandhan is a festival of love, protection, and bonding. It is a day for sisters to express their love and concern for their brothers, and for brothers to promise to always protect their sisters.
Raksha Bandhan is a festival of love and protection between brothers and sisters. On this day, sisters tie a rakhi (a sacred thread) on their brothers’ wrists. The rakhi is a symbol of the sister’s love and affection for her brother, and it also symbolizes the brother’s promise to protect his sister. In return, the brother gives his sister a gift, such as jewelry or money.
Raksha Bandhan is also celebrated between friends and other close relationships. In this case, the rakhi is a symbol of the friendship or relationship between the two people.
Raksha Bandhan is a time for sisters and brothers to come together and celebrate their love and bond. It is also a time for friends and other close relationships to express their love and affection for each other.
Here are some of the customs and traditions associated with Raksha Bandhan:
- Sisters tie rakhis on their brothers’ wrists.
- Brothers give their sisters gifts, such as jewelry or money.
- Sisters pray for their brothers’ well-being.
- Brothers promise to protect their sisters.
- Families gather to celebrate the festival.
- There are feasts and festivities.
- People exchange gifts.
- Rakhi songs are sung.
Raksha Bandhan is a beautiful festival that celebrates the love and bond between brothers and sisters. It is a day to come together and express our love and affection for each other.
