The bonding between a brother and sister is unique and is beyond the description in words. The relationship between siblings is extraordinary and important in every part of the world. However, when it comes to India, the relationship becomes more important as there is a festival called “Raksha Bandhan, ” which is dedicated to sibling love.
This is a special Hindu festival celebrated in India and countries such as Nepal to symbolize the love between a brother and sister. Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu luni-solar calendar in the month of Shravana, which typically falls in the August month of the Gregorian calendar.
Meaning of Raksha Bandhan
The festival is made up of two words, namely “Raksha” and “Bandhan.” As per the Sanskrit terminology, the occasion means “the tie or knot of protection” where “Raksha” stands for the protection and “Bandhan” Bandhan signifies the verb to tie. Together, the festival symbolizes the eternal love of the brother-sister relationship, which does not refer only to blood relationships. It is also celebrated among cousins, sisters and sister-in-law (Bhabhi), fraternal aunt (Bua), nephew (Bhatija), and other such relations.
Importance of Raksha Bandhan among various religions in India
• Hinduism: The festival is mainly celebrated by Hindus in the northern and western parts of India along with countries such as Nepal, Pakistan, and Mauritius.
• Jainism- The Jain community also reverses the occasion where Jain priests give ceremonial threads to the devotees.
• Sikhism: This festival devoted to brother-sister love is observed by the Sikhs as “Rakhardi’ or Rakhari.
Origin of Raksha Bandhan Festival
The festival of Raksha Bandhan is known to have originated centuries ago, and there are several stories related to the celebration of this special festival. Some of the various accounts of Hindu mythology are described below.
• Indra Dev and Sachi:
According to the ancient legend of Bhavishya Purana, once there was a fierce battle between the gods and demons. Lord Indra, the principle deity of the sky, rains, and thunderbolts who were fighting the battle on the side of Gods, were resistant to the powerful demon King Bali. The war continued for a long time and did not end decisively. Seeing this, Indra’s wife Sachi went to Lord Vishnu, who gave her a holy bracelet made up of cotton thread. Sachi tied the holy thread around the wrist of her husband, Lord Indra who ultimately defeated the demons and recovered the Amaravati. The earlier account of the festival described these holy threads as amulets that were used by women for prayers and were tied to their husbands when they were leaving for a war. Unlike in the present times, these holy threads were not limited to brother-sister relationships.
• King Bali and Goddess Lakshmi-
As per an account of Bhagavata Purana and Vishnu Purana, when Lord Vishnu won the three worlds from the demon King Bali, he asked by the demon king to stay beside him in the palace. The Lord accepted this request and started living with the demon king. However, Goddess Lakshmi, wife of Lord Vishnu, wanted to return to his native location in Vaikuntha. She tied the rakhi around the wrist of the demon king, Bali, and made him a brother. On asking for the return gift, Goddess Lakshmi asked Bali to free her husband from the vow and let him return to Vaikuntha. Bali agreed to this request, and Lord Vishnu returned to his place with his wife, Goddess Lakshmi.
• Santoshi Maa-
It is said that the two sons of Lord Ganesha, Shubh and Labh, were frustrated that they had no sisters. They asked for a sister from their father, who finally obliged their sister to the intervention of Saint Narada. This is how Lord Ganesha created Santoshi Maa through the divine flames and the two sons of Lord Ganesha got their sister for the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.
• Krishna and Draupadi-
Based on an account of Mahabharat, Draupadi, wife of Pandavas tied a rakhi to Lord Krishna while Kunti tied the rakhi to grandson Abhimanyu before the epic war.
• Yama and the Yamuna-
Another legend says that the death God, Yama did not visit his sister Yamuna for a period of 12 years who ultimately became very sad. On the advice of Ganga, Yama went to meet his sister Yamuna who has very happy and performed hospitality of her brother, Yama. This made Yama delighted, who asked Yamuna for gifts. She expressed her desire to see her brother repeatedly. Hearing this, Yama made his sister Yamuna immortal so that he could see her repeatedly. This mythological account forms the basis of festival called “Bhai Dooj” which is also based on the brother-sister relationship.
Reason for the celebration of this festival
The festival of Raksha Bandhan is observed as a symbol of duty between brothers and sisters. The occasion is meant to celebrate any type of brother-sister relationship between men and women that may not be biologically related.
On this day, a sister ties a Rakhi around the wrist of her brother to pray for his prosperity, health, and well-being. In return, the brother offers gifts and promises to protect his sister from harm and under every circumstance. The festival is also celebrated by a brother-sister belonging to distant family members, relatives, or cousins.
