Rakhi or Raksha Bandhan is a popular Indian festival. It is celebrated in order
to commemorate the sacred relationship of a brother and sister. On this
occasion, a sister tied an auspicious thread called Raksha Sutra, Raksha Bandhan
or Rakhi on her brother's hands. This sacred thread is the symbol of the
unbreakable tie of love between the siblings. A sister ties Rakhi on her
brother's hand to seek his protection and care throughout her life. There is
also a trend of presenting a gift or money by brothers in return as a token of
love.
When Is Rakhi
The festival of Rakhi is celebrated in almost all the Hindu families around the
world. Nowadays even some non-Hindu families now celebrate this festival as
Rakhi has now become a universal celebration beyond religion to commemorate the
pious threads of love between brother and sister. According to the Hindu
calendar, Raksha Bandhan falls on the purnima or full moon day in the holy month
of Shravana, the fifth month of a Hindu calendar. This day corresponds to the
July-August month according to the Gregorian calendar.
The preparation for Rakhi celebrations begin days before the actual
celebrations. People wear new dresses and prepare lots of scrumptious items on
this day. Those brothers who stay away from their sisters visit their sister's
place to celebrate this occasion. In some families, this festival also becomes a
reason for mini get-together. This day stands as the epitome of the eternal
bonding of love and affection among siblings.
The festival of Rakhi is celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm. It is
awaited by every body in the family. It becomes extra special when sisters get
married and go away to some other place, as this becomes the occasion for the
reunion of brother and sister. Though several changes have come in the recent
years in terms of celebrations, the piousness of the festival remains the same.
It is like the thread of Rakhi- beautiful, auspicious and unbreakable.
