Raksha Bandhan (Rakhi) in India ― Date, History, and Details
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History of Raksha Bandhan (Rakhi) in India and How to Celebrate/ Observe It
The festival of Raksha Bandhan, also known as Rakhi, is celebrated in India every year on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Shravan (August). It is a day when brothers and sisters express their affection for each other by tying a sacred thread, called a rakhi, around the wrist of the brother.
The word Raksha means protection and Bandhan means bond, so the festival signifies the strong bond of protection between brothers and sisters. On this day, sisters also pray for the long life and prosperity of their brothers.
Raksha Bandhan has its origins in ancient Hindu mythology. There are many stories associated with the festival that explain its significance.
One popular story is about the Hindu god Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi. Once, while Vishnu was resting on the coils of the serpent king Shesha, Lakshmi began to massage his feet. When Shesha saw this, he was filled with jealousy and tried to bite Lakshmi. Vishnu then protected Lakshmi by catching hold of Shesha’s fangs. This act of protection by Vishnu towards Lakshmi is commemorated on Raksha Bandhan.
Another story is about the warrior queen Draupadi from the Hindu epic Mahabharata. After her husbands, the Pandavas, had lost everything in a game of dice, she was forcibly dragged into the court by Duryodhana, the eldest of the Kaurava brothers. As she was being humiliated, her clothing began to tear. But each time a piece of clothing was about to fall off, another piece would appear, until she was finally covered completely. Lord Krishna, who was present in the court, was so impressed by her devotion that he tore off a strip of his own garment and wrapped it around her. This act of protection by Krishna is also commemorated on Raksha Bandhan.
The festival of Raksha Bandhan is thus a celebration of the protective bond between brothers and sisters, and is a reminder of the duty of brothers to protect their sisters.