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Rakhsha Bandhan is a famous festival among Hindu religions, popularly known as Rakhi. This festival is widely celebrated in India and signifies the brotherhood and love among Indians, which is the true significance of Rakhsha Bandhan.
In the Hindu religion, Rakhsha Bandhan is defined as the safety bond that shows the purity and bonding between siblings. Usually, this special Hindu festival occurs on the full moon day, in the month of Shravan, based on the Hindu calendar.
The festival is celebrated to give importance to the extraordinary relationship between the siblings and symbolize the brotherhood relationship among Indians.
Who Started the Raksha Bandhan celebration and why?
Nobel poet Rabindranath Tagore encouraged celebrating this festival to oppose the partition of Bengal in 1905. He wanted to create a strong bonding between the different communities through this festival.
He encouraged Hindus and Muslims to tie a Rakhi on each other’s hands, symbolizing brotherhood and love for their community. Celebration of this festival was a powerful attempt against the British rulers and their effort to partition Bengal and divisions between Hindus and Muslims.
History of starting Raksha Bandhan
We have found several stories in Indian history which describe the history of starting this festival. The story of Raksha Bandhan has related today to Hindu mythology and the Hindu epic Mahabharata. Once Lord Krishna cut his finger, Draupadi tied a piece of cloth from her saree, which stopped the bleeding. After this incident, the piece of cloth becomes a sacred thread And symbolizes the true significance of Raksha Bandhan.
There is also a famous story about King Bali and Goddess Laxmi, which also depicted the origin of the Raksha Bandhan. The Demon King Mahabali was a devotee of Lord Vishnu. The devotion of king Bali made Lord Vishnu take the responsibility to protect the Kingdom. Due to which he had to leave his place in Vikindam.
The Lord Vishnu’s wife, Goddess Lakshmi, could not stay apart from her husband, so she arrived at Mahabali castle disguised as a Brahmin refugee woman. Goddess Laxmi tied Rakhi on the mahabali king’s wrist on a full moon day, also called Shravan Purnima.
After a few days, Lord Lakhi revealed her real identity, and that revelation so touched king Mahabali that he requested Lord Vishnu to accompany goddess Lakshmi to Vaikuntam. The king of mahabali castle was touched by Lord Vishnu’s affection and his family. From that day onwards, it is a tradition to invite someone’s sister on Shravan Purnima for tying the auspicious Raksha Bandhan thread.
Significance of Raksha Bandhan
Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi is one of the most celebrated days in India. All over the country, people, irrespective of their caste and religion, celebrate this auspicious day. The celebration of Rakhi or Raksha Bandhan signifies protection.
Generally, we find people all over the country going to temples and priests and getting a secret rate tied. This is hugely celebrated in the Kala Bhairava temple in Varanasi, where people tie a black thread on their wrists. We learn scenes are seen in the Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu and Kashmir, where people are seen tying a red band around their forehead on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.
According to traditions, it is said and believed that if someone maintains its sanctity, even Yagnopaveetam acts as a Raksha to the wearers. One misconception of Raksha Bandhan in India is that it can only be performed between brothers and sisters. However, this concept is not true, and even a husband or wife can tie Rakhi in each other’s hands, or a disciple can also tie Rakhi to his guru. Tying Rakhi or someone’s hand is set to increase the bond of protection, respect, and love between the two individuals irrespective of any blood relations they have with each other.
How to Celebrate Rakhi
From the above discussion, we had already seen that Rakhi doesn’t need to be tied only by sisters to their brothers. On the day of Raksha Bandhan, we were giving the Rakhi to someone who wishes good health and a happy life for him, and in return, the other person gifts or something with the promise of protecting them throughout their life.
The true significance of Rakhi, or the thread here which is being tied, is a strong representation of love and protection. On this day, they wear new attires, and after tying the Rakhi, they have good food cooked in their places.
Conclusion
In the above article, we have seen the true significance of Rakhi or Raksha Bandhan, which is protection, love, and respect. We have briefly seen who started the Rakhi celebrations and the mythological story of why it is celebrated every year.
This article briefly mentions that Rakhi is not just supposed to be between siblings but also can be between husbands and wives. Raksha Bandhan is celebrated every year in India and will remain one of the most auspicious days that we see in a year.
