Raksha Bandhan

festival of Raksha Bandhan

On this day the sister ties a Tika on her brother's forehead and ties the bond of protection,

which is called Rakhi. It is a Hindu and Jain festival celebrated every year on the full moon day of the month of Shravan.

The literal meaning of Raksha Bandhan is the thread that protects.

In this festival, sisters tie a thread of protection on the wrist of their brother and in return the brothers promise to protect them for life.

Rakhi in Mahabharata - The festival of Rakshabandhan is also mentioned in Mahabharata. When Yudhishthira asked Lord Krishna how I could overcome all the troubles, Krishna advised to celebrate the festival of Rakhi to protect him and his army.

Krishna's index finger was hurt while killing Shishupala, so Draupadi tore her sari and tied a rag on his finger to stop the bleeding. This was also the full moon day of Shravan month. Krishna had repaid this debt by saving his shame at the time of chirharan. In the festival of Raksha Bandhan, there is a sense of mutual protection and cooperation of each other.

Epilogue: Today this festival is the identity of our culture and every Indian is proud of this festival. But in India, where this special festival is celebrated for sisters, there are some people who kill brother's sisters in the womb.

Today many brothers are unable to tie rakhi on their wrists just because their sisters were not allowed by their parents to enter this world. It is a matter of shame that in a country where the law of worship of girls is in the scriptures, cases of female feticide come to the fore. This festival also reminds us how much importance sisters hold in our lives.

If we do not control female feticide soon, then it is possible that one day the sex ratio in the country will decrease more rapidly and social imbalance will also be there.

Historical importance - The history of Rakshabandhan is in Hindu mythology. The context of Rakshabandhan is found in the legend named Vamanavatar. The story goes like this- King Bali tried to take possession of heaven by performing a yajna, then Devraj Indra prayed to Lord Vishnu. Vishnu ji came to be a Vamana Brahmin to ask for alms from King Bali.

Despite the Guru's refusal, Bali donated three steps of land. Lord Vamana measured the sky, the underworld and the earth in three steps and sent King Bali to the abyss. On the strength of his devotion, he took a promise from Vishnu to be in front of him at all times. Lakshmi ji got worried about this. On the advice of Narad ji, Lakshmi ji went to Bali and tied the rakshasutra and made him her brother. In return she brought Vishnu with her. That day was the full moon date of the month of Shravan.

There are many references to the importance of Rakhi in history. Maharani Karmavati of Mewar had sent Rakhi to Mughal King Humayun and requested for protection. Despite being a Muslim, Humayun kept the shame of Rakhi.

It is said that Sikandar's wife had tied a rakhi to her husband's Hindu enemy Puru, and made him her brother and took a vow not to kill Sikandar during the war. Puru gave life to Sikandar by honoring the promise he made to his sister by wearing a rakhi tied in his hand during the war.