Greetings on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. This year Raksha Bandhan is being celebrated @ 2nd August 2012.....
Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi is a special occasion to celebrate the emotional bonding between brothers and sisters.
Raksha Bandhan (Hindi:
रक्षाबंधन), (the bond of protection), or
Rakhi (Hindi: राखी), celebrates the relationship between brothers and sisters. It is
also called Rakhi Purnima in certain parts of India, like the
south. The festival is observed by Hindus and Jains. The central
ceremony involves the tying of a
Rakhi (sacred thread) by a sister on her brother's wrist. This
symbolizes the sister's love and prayers for her brother's well-being,
and the brother's lifelong vow to protect her. The festival falls on the
full moon day (Shravan Purnima) of the Shravan
month of the Hindu lunisolar calendar It grew in popularity after Rani
Karnavati, the widowed queen of Chittor, sent a Rakhi to the Mughal
emperor Humayun when she required his help.
Observance
The
festival is marked by the tying of a Rakhi, or holy thread, which comes
in many colors and designs , by the sister on the wrist of her brother.
The brother in return offers a gift to his sister
and vows to look after her as she presents sweets to him. The brother
usually presents his sister with an envelope filled with money however,
other presents such as saris and clothing are also given. The brother
and sister traditionally feed one another sweets.
These sweets include anything from Jalebi, Kaju Katli, and Burfi. Since
north Indian kinship practices give cousins a status similar to
siblings, girls and women often tie the Rakhi to their male cousins as
well (referred to as "cousin-brothers" in regional
parlance) in several communities. Unrelated boys and men who are
considered to be brothers (muh-bola bhai or
adopted brothers) can be tied rakhis, provided they commit to a lifelong obligation to provide protection to the woman or girl.
Other festivals on this day
In
southern & Central parts of India including Kerala, Andhra Pradesh,
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Orissa, this day (i.e. Shravan
Purnima
day), is when the Brahmin community performs the rituals of Avani
Avittam or Upakarma.
The chaste bond of love between a brother and a sister is one of the deepest and noblest of human emotions.
May this Rakhi further strengthen the bond between brothers and sisters.
