Raksha bandhan

Hi All ,

Today We are going to talk about Raksha bandhan .Raksha Bandhan is a festival which celebrates
the bond of affection between brothers and sisters.

The Meaning of Raksha Bandhan
Relationships are the essence of celebration and it holds true for any
Indian festival. Each festival brings the family together which calls for
a total festive environment. Raksha Bandhan is a celebration of one such
relation - the relation of a brother and a sister. The relation is no where
 so celebrated as in India. Raksha Bandhan is a festival which celebrates
the bond of affection between brothers and sisters. It is a day when the
siblings pray for each others' well being and wish for each others' happiness
 and goodwill.

The name 'Raksha Bandhan' suggests 'a bond of protection'. On this auspicious
 day, brothers make a promise to their sisters to protect them from all harms
 and troubles and the sisters pray to God to protect their brother from all
evil. The festival falls on the Shravan Purnima which comes generally in the
month of August. Sisters tie the silk thread called Rakhi on their brother's
wrist and pray for their well being and brothers promise to take care of their
 sisters.

 The Significance
Raksha Bandhan is now considered as a day to celebrate the sacred relation of
a brother and a sister. Yet there have been examples in history where in rakhi
has just been a raksha or protection. It could be tied by wife, a daughter or
mother. The Rishis tied rakhi to the people who came seeking their blessings.
The sages tied the sacred thread to themselves to safe guard them from the evil. It is by all means the 'Papa Todak, Punya Pradayak Parva' or the day that bestows boons and end all sins as it is mentioned in the scriptures.

Previously, Rakhi festival encompasses the warmth shared between the siblings
but now it goes way beyond it. Some people tie Rakhi to neighbours and close
friends signifying a peaceful co-existence of every individual. Rakhi Utsav was
 first popularized by Rabindranath Tagore to promote the feeling of unity and a
 commitment to all members of society to protect each other and encourage a
harmonious Social life.

In today's scenario, the day has a different perspective. The occasion involves
 a pledge of life-time practice of moral, cultural and spiritual values. The
values and the sentiments attached to the rituals of this festival are worth
inculcating by the whole human race, the sentiments of harmony and peaceful
coexistence. The festival of Raksha Bandhan assumes all forms of Raksha or
protection, of righteousness and destroyer of all sin. The ritual of Rakhi
tying has become so important that come what may, brothers and sisters try to
 visit each other place on this particular day tin order to bring back the
oneness of the family, binding the family together in an emotional bond of love.


 Importance of Raksha Bandhan

Around mid-August, Hindus all over the world celebrate Raksha bandhan.
 "Raksha" means protection, and "bandhan" means bound or binding.

In North India, the occasion is popularly called Rakhi, Raksha Bandhan or
 Rakshaa Bandhan- the tying of an amulet.

In ancient times a woman tied a 'rakshaa' on her husband's wrist to protect
 him from evil. Gradually this changed; she tied a 'rakshaa' on her brother's
 right wrist, to protect him from evil influence and those factors which may
taint his character, and to strengthen the bond of sibling love between them.
 On the occasion of Rakshaa Bandhan she visits her brother's home and performs
 his 'pujan' by applying kumkum and rice grains on his forehead. In return the
brother gives her a gift and vows to protect her too. The 'rakhadi' for rakshaa
 bandhan itself ranges from a coloured cotton string to exquisitely decorated
balls of various sizes and materials such as fluffy cotton, 'zari' paper,
tinsel, beads and so on.

On Rakshaa Bandhan a second imortance relates to 'Baleva' and our devotion
to the Lord. Just as Bali Raja offered devotion to Lord Narayan by
sacrificing his kingdom and himself, devotees should endeavor to emulate him.
 That is the true spirit of Baleva.

Rakshaa bandhan day is important for the priests too, as they tie rakhis
on their patrons wrist and in return receive offerings from them. In some
 parts of the country it is customary to draw figures on the walls of their
 home and worship them with offerings of vermilion and kheer. The imprints
of palms are also put on either side of the entrance and rakhis are stuck
on them as part of rakshaa bandhan rituals. Some parts of India also reserve
 Rakshaa Bandhan day importance for the sacred thread changing ceremony
when the young brahmin boys discard the old one and don a new one
ritualistically. However, on rakshaa bandhan it is the emotions which are
 important. The rakshaa bandhan ceremony performed is the symbolic
everlasting bond between brothers and sisters that reinforces ties between
 them even across continents, and it is the one which has the most
importance on this auspicious day.