Rakshabandhan – The Celebration Of Sibling Love

By Author: Luther King
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Rakhi or Raksha Bandhan – the festival that celebrates the eternal bonding of sibling lives, especially the relationship between brothers and sisters. The festival of Rakhi falls on the full moon day of the month of Shravan. Or it is celebrated on the day of Shravana Pournami which falls generally in the second week of August. Hence, the occasion is also called Rakhi Purnima.
The religious angle
The Indian epics are replete with occasions were sisters sent their brothers off to wars with tilaks or holy bindhis on their foreheads and ritualistic bands tied to their wrists with prayers for their success and safe return.
The historical perspective
History has a reference to the observation of Rakhi when the widowed queen of Chitoor, Rani Karnavadi gifted a Rakhi to the Mughal Emperor Humayun. The Rakhi was accompanied by a request for Humayun’s help to protect and safeguard her kingdom. History says that henceforth, Humayun accepted Karnavadi as his sister and vowed to be her guardian and defender. The celebration of Rakhi gained in popularity with this incident.
The rituals observed
Rakshabandhan ...
... is usually celebrated by the religions of Hinduism and Sikhism. On the day of the Shravana Pournami, the female sibling would tie a rakhi or a decorative band around the hands of her brother. The band is seen as an eternal symbol of her love and devotion towards her brother. Through this bond, she wordlessly promises to always remember him in her prayers.
The brother, in turn is bound to protect and cherish her throughout her life. The brother presents a gift to his sister while she offers him sweets. Rakhi is offered not just to blood brothers, but even cousins are honored in this manner.
The gifts of Rakhi
The celebration of Rakhi is incomplete without the giving of gifts to the sister by her brother. Earlier, the gifts consisted of mainly an envelope containing cash. At times, the gift would be articles of clothing like saris or salwars.
But, with the passage of time, the nature of gifts has also undergone changes. At present, almost anything can be given as Rakhi gifts. The most common gifts that are given during the Rakhi are sweets such as jalebis and ladoos, chocolates and greeting cards with moving messages related to Rakhi.
The market today is flooded with all sorts of items as Rakhi gifts. In fact, even gift hampers and designer Rakhi gifts are available at present. You will be spoilt for choices when it comes to selecting gifts for Rakhi.
The sisters feel cherished and loved during this occasion of Raksha Bandhan or the bond of protection. This is the occasion when the sacred and abiding relationship of sibling love is raised to its glory. The festival is celebrated with a great deal of fanfare and pageantry mainly in North India.
The festival of Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi Purnima is meant to pay tribute to human relationships and stress the importance for the need of mutual bonding and togetherness between family members.

Luther King writes articles on gift ideas, tips on rakhi gifts to vijayawada and rakhi day gifts to guntur.