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Raksha
Bandhan
In
the days when gods warred with the demons, the consort
of Indra (the Puranic King of the Heavens) tied a
rakhi (a silken amulet) around his wrist, by virtue
of which, it is said, the god won back his celestial
abode from his enemies.
Raksha
Bandhan is celebrated in some parts of India as a
festival to honour the sea god Varuna. However, at
most places, it celebrates the love of a brother for
his sister. On this day, sisters tie rakhi on the
wrists of their brothers to protect them against evil
influences.
This is also the day set apart for Brahmins to change
their sacred thread they wear. In Bombay, it is an
occasion for offering coconuts to the sea.
It is the delicate cord tied by the sister to the
brother. History and legends of Bharat abound in touching
episodes of ladies seeking protection from far-off,
unacquainted heroes, though the Raakhi. A Story is
told of Alexander's wife approaching his mighty Hindu
adversary
Pururavas
and tying Raakhi on his hand, seeking assurance from
him for saving the life of her husband on the battlefield.
And the great Hindu king, in the true traditional Kshatriya
style, responded; and as the legend goes, just as he
raised his hand to deliver a mortal blow to Alexander,
he saw the Raakhi on his own hand and restrained from
striking. There are many legends that signify the importance
of the Rakhi in India. Legend goes that once Indra,
the Pauranic King of the Heavens, while warring with
the Daitya-Raaja (demon king) was confronted with reverses.
Humbled, he sought the advice of Brihaspati, the Guru.
On the auspicious occasion of Shravan Poornima, both
Shachee Devi or Indrani, the consort of Indra and Brihaspati,
the Guru of the Gods, tied silken amulets popularly
known as Raksha on Indra’s wrist. Subsequently,
Indra vanquished the Daitya-Raaja and re-established
sovereignty over his celestial abode.
A
more poignant instance is of the princess of a small
Rajput principality. It speaks of the spell the Raakhi
had cast even on those of alien faiths. The princess
sent a Raakhi to the Moghal Emperor Humayun to save
her honor from the onslaught of the Gujarat Sultan.
The emperor who was engaged in an expedition against
Bengal, turned back and hastened to the rescue of
his Raakhi sister. But, alas, to his utmost sorrow,
he found that the kingdom had already been overrun
and the princess had committed Jauhaar, i.e., leaped
into the flames to save her honor.
In
the Hindu tradition the Rakshaa has indeed assumed
all aspects of protection of the forces of righteousness
from the forces of evil. Once, Yudhishthira asked
Sri Krishna how best he could guard himself against
impending evils and catastrophes in the coming year.
Krishna advised him to observe the Rakshaa Ceremony.
He also narrated an old incident to show how potent
the Rakshaa is.
Raksha
Bandhan day starts with a festive mood in every Indian
home. Rakhis are made or bought a day before the festival.
Traditional goodies and dishes are prepared early
in the morning. After an early bath, the offering
Puja (worshipping of god) takes place. The sister
then offers “aarti” (a traditional way of
worshipping) to her brother and ties the thread on
his right wrist. Traditional “tilak”or vermilion
powder on the forehead of the brother is put and the
brother blesses the sister. The tradition of giving
gifts and presents is also an important part of this
festival. The brother gifts his sister a gift after
she ties the Rakhi on his wrist. This gift acts as
a token of love and affection of the brother towards
the sister. Sometimes sisters also demand for a gift
of their own choice to keep it as a loving memory
of that very day. However, the blessing bestowed by
the brother itself is regarded as the biggest gift
for the sister. Treating her brother along with her
entire family, the goodies and eatables that have
been prepared follows next. The normal rituals are
followed with great devotion and dedication.
The
festival of Raksha Bandhan is also known as Narial
Poornima or Coconut Full Moon in Mumbai’s famous
beaches. Coconuts are thrown into the sea to propitiate
the Sea God, Varuna, who is the chief object of worship
on this occasion. The ‘three eyes’ of the
coconut are believed to represent the three-eyed Shiva
and hence the religious significance. In fact, Hindus
consider it auspicious to break a coconut in front
of a deity before embarking upon any important venture.
A
similar practice is followed in some other places
in order to offer Puja to the God of rain and water,
Lord Varuna.
Raksha
Bandhan is called Avani Avittam in South India. This
is the time of “upakarmam,” and is celebrated
in various ways. It falls on the full-moon day of
the month of Shravan (August–September). It is
an important Hindu festival. On this day, Hindu Brahmans
wear a new holy thread and offer libations of water
to the ancient Rishis.
The
day is also set apart for Brahmins to change their
sacred thread they wear.
Thus,
though the rituals and customs followed are different
from region to region, the festivities of the Indian
festivals have always been present in all the festivals.
The characteristics like jauntiness, zeal, customs
and rituals, traditional cuisines are also very much
present in all the festivals here.
Origin
It
is said that Rakhi Purnima originated when Indrani,
wife of Lord Indra, prepared a talisman, which she
tied on her husband's wrist on Sravan Poornima to
win the battle against the demons. The power of the
talisman made the Gods victorious. Ever since, on
Sravan Poornima, the tradition of tying the thread
began and it was believed that the persons on whose
wrist the thread was tied would be blessed with health,
wealth, happiness and victories.
This practice was prevalent among the Rajputs. At
the time of war when the brave Rajput soldiers prepared
to go to the battlefield, the women folk followed
the ritual of tying a thread around their wrist after
applying a dash of vermilion powder on their forehead.
This was considered a sign of good omen and the ladies
believed that it would protect their men from the
enemy's blow and bring them victory.
Bahadur
Shah attacked the kingdom of the Queen of Mewar, Maharani
Karmavati. Helpless she sent a Rakhi to the Mughal
king, Humayun. The emperor who under normal circumstances
would not have helped a Rajput ruler, decided to protect
her from the threat. Humayun reached Mewar, chased
Bahadur Shah and his men and restored the kingdom
to the Queen.
In
the Mahabharata, Yudhishthira, asked Sri Krishna how
he could guard himself against impending evils and
catastrophes in the coming year. Krishna advised him
to observe the Raksha Ceremony.
A
story is also told of Alexander's wife approaching
Porus and tying a Rakhi on his hand, seeking assurance
from him for saving the life of her husband on the
battlefield. And the great Hindu king, in the traditional
Kshatriya style responded; and as the legend goes,
when Porus raised his hand to deliver a mortal blow
to Alexander, he saw the Rakhi on his own hand and
restrained from striking.
Rabindranath
Tagore introduced the tradition of tying Rakhis in
Shantiniketan to re-establish the bond of love between
all sects and religions.
Today
children and women all around the country in an aim
to spread brotherhood tie Rakhis on the wrists of
soldiers and even prisoners.
How
to Make Colorful, Decorative RAKHI
Raksha
Bandhan - the Indian festival of tying the knot
of amity, brotherhood and long life, is a symbol
of seeking divine bliss. Not for the 'self'.
But for man on whose wrist the thread is tied.
'Raksha' is the word for protection. 'Bandhan'
is the bond. So it signifies the bond of protection.
The protection is from the dark hands of the
evils and against all perils. The protection
that connotates - not just physical, but the
spiritual one as well.
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Materials
needed:
Strands of silk threads-2/3
A pair of scissors
Cotton thread to tie knots
Beads, sitaras, golden threads and sponge
to decorate
Glue
A toothbrush with hard bristles.
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| Method: |
| Take
20-24 inches long silk thread strands in a bunch.
If you want to make multi coloured rakhis take
silk threads of different colours. |
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Tie
a tight knot with a cotton thread on the one-fourth
part of the silken thread bunch. The one-fourth
part will be made into a rakhi while the three-fourth
will be the string to tie around the wrist.
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| Now
make sure the heads of the silk threads of the
one-fourth part of the bunch do not remain in
loops, in case they are, cut them with a pair
of scissors. |
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Once
they are independent of loops, with a toothbrush
rub hard on these threads and brush them with
strong strokes by holding tight on the knot. With
repeated strokes the silk threads turns fluffy
and soft. |
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To make the string,
divide the three-fourth part of the silk thread
in two equal parts and plait them separately.
At the end tie a knot and brush the end again. |
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Once
this is done decorate it with beads or sitaras.
Stick them with glue. You can purchase sponge
of a suitable colour, cut it into a star shape,
decorate it with beads or sitaras. Golden threads
can be entwined used for decoration. And then
stick it with glue. |
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