UNIQUE AND INTERESTING

RAKSHABANDHAN

India is a country rich of festivals. Its culture is so rich that it celebrates a festival almost every month. In fact, India is globally known for its colourful festivals and ever-green tradition. Moreover, people of India are so lively that they celebrate each and every festival with lot of enthusiasm. One of such festival is Rakhi or Raksha Bandhan, which strengthens and celebrates the precious bond shared between a brother and a sister. Like any other festival, rakhi has its unique significance.

Raksha Bandhan - the bond of protection is a Hindu festival, which celebrates the relationship between brothers and sisters.Raksha Bandhan is celebrated every year on 'Shravan Purnima' (Full Moon Day of the Hindu month of Shravan), which generally falls in the month of August.

Rakhi is basically a sacred thread of protection embellished with the love and affection of a sister for her brother. Raksha Bandhan is a festival which On the auspicious day of Rakhi, sisters wake up in the morning, take bath, offer prayers to the Almighty and visit their brothers to perform the rituals of Rakhi. The ritual of Raksha Bandhan essentially includes tying of sacred thread (which is called 'Rakhi' or 'Raksha Sutra') by the sisters, on their brothers' wrist.


Before tying Rakhi, the sisters would perform an aarti, apply tilak (by mixing rice grains and roli) on their brother's forehead. The brother and sister traditionally feed sweets to each other. Sisters bestow their brothers with gifts and blessings. Brothers also wish them a good life and pledge to take care of them. After the ritual of tying Rakhi is over, the brothers would give their sisters some gift or money and promise them to help them when ever they need and protect them throughout their lifetime. In fact, offering gifts to sisters is a tradition of Raksha Bandhan. Year by year, the enthusiasm amongst the brothers and their sisters, to celebrate the festival, is increasing.

It is clearly visible from the wide variety of Rakhi, Raksha Bandhan gifts and sweets flocking the shelves of the stores, during the holiday.

Rakshabandhan bears social significance, because it symbolizes the importance of relationship between siblings.

Though brothers and sisters share and enjoy the bond of love between them throughout the year, but Rakhi is the day when they get an opportunity to express their tender love and feelings for each other. Rakhi also makes them commemorate their loving memories, loyalty, closeness, trust and friendship that is ever lasting and pure.



The day of Raksha Bandhan has over a period of time gained tremendous importance in India. On this occasion, people cut across manmade barriers like religion, caste, and color, and reach out to each other. This display of oneness is what makes Raksha Bandhan special and one of the most important festivals of India.

The day is all about raksha or protection, not just for self but for the dear ones, for peaceful existence of the human race. Each ritual that is followed has significance. The sisters seek love from their brothers; the brothers seek courage and endurance. Rakshabandhan is a festival that dictates the values of brotherhood and self-perseverance.